What is PLA (Polylactic Acid)?

Definition and Components of PLA Filament

So, what is PLA filament? PLA (Polylactic Acid) is a thermoplastic made from renewable resources like cornstarch, making it an eco-friendly choice for 3D printing. 

This filament has become one of the most widely used materials due to its easy-to-use properties and versatility. PLA filament typically requires lower extrusion temperatures than other filaments (between 180–200°C), which makes it well-suited for beginner printers as it is easier to use. Our Geeetech filament is particularly noted for its smooth printing experience, avoiding common issues like clogging the extruder. Additionally, Geeetech offers a variety of PLA filament types beyond the standard: high-speed PLA, luminous PLA, and even creative options like silk and marble PLA. There is also clear PLA filament for projects needing transparency.

Is PLA Actually Plastic?

Yes, PLA is indeed a type of plastic, but not your typical kind.
PLA is biodegradable and derived from renewable biomass, meaning it’s less harmful to the environment compared to other filament types. Though it is still plastic, PLA’s nature makes it a more environmentally-conscious 3D printing material.

What Will Dissolve PLA?

When you smooth the surface of your PLA prints for painting, you have to choose a good chemical. Using ethyl acetate is a good choice for PLA. It helps to dissolve the surface slightly, making it smoother and easier to prepare for painting, without damaging the main structure. Another option you may have around isopropyl alcohol (IPA), which, while not as effective as ethyl acetate, can still be used for minor smoothing.

Note also that PLA is resistant to water and won’t dissolve simply by soaking in water, unlike some other printing materials.

How Long Does PLA Prints Last?

PLA prints are durable under typical indoor conditions. However, exposure to sunlight and moisture can degrade the material over time, causing it to become brittle. Therefore, it is not recommended for outdoor projects. Proper storage in a cool, dry place is also essential for longevity.

Advantages and Disadvantages: PLA vs ABS

To choose PLA or ABS filament, you should look at the different needs of your project.

Advantages of PLA

• Lower printing temperature
• Minimal odor while printing
• Eco-friendly, biodegradable material
• Great for detailed and decorative items

Disadvantages of PLA

• Limited resistance to heat and UV exposure
• More brittle compared to ABS

Advantages of ABS

• More durable and heat-resistant
• Ideal for mechanical parts and outdoor use

Disadvantages of ABS

• Emits fumes when heated, requiring good ventilation during printing

Choosing between PLA vs ABS filament comes down to project needs: PLA is typically the best 3D filament for ease and aesthetics, while ABS generally works best for projects needing durability and strength.

Printing Tips for Beginners and Pros

How to Set up Your 3D Printer?

Before you start a print, you must set up your printer properly. Ensure that your slicer settings are configured for the specific filament you are using. For Geeetech PLA filament, you can use a bed temperature between 50–60°C. Also, calibrate your extruder temperature (typically between 180–200°C for PLA) and make sure your print bed is level.

How to Choose PLA, ABS, or PETG for Projects?

Each filament type has its strengths and weaknesses, which makes them suitable for different kinds of projects.

• PLA: Best for beginners, decorative objects, and items not exposed to heat.
• ABS: Ideal for mechanical parts and outdoor use due to its heat resistance.

PETG: A middle ground between PLA and ABS. PETG is strong, UV resistant, and easier to print than ABS. Choosing between PETG filament vs PLA often comes down to durability vs ease of printing.

You will know more by reading our introduction to all 3d printer filament types.

How to Store Filaments?

How to Dry Filament

Moisture can cause serious printing issues, like poor layer adhesion and bubbling. You can dry your filament using a filament dryer box or simply place it in an oven at a low temperature for a couple of hours. 

How to Keep Filament Dry More Properly

For a more ‘appropriate’ way to store filament, you can use vacuum storage bags to keep the filaments dry and maintain their quality. Geeetech offers thickened vacuum bag sets that are ideal for this purpose, which will help you get the best performance out of your filaments over time.

Popular Applications of 3D Printing

Various Industry Applications

PLA filament and other 3D printing materials have been gaining traction. From rapid prototyping in the electronics sector to creating custom parts in electric vehicles, the potential uses are rapidly escalating.

On a more personal level, 3D printing has also made its way into daily life, providing practical solutions for household issues. For example, a 3D-printed knife shelf board can be a clever replacement when traditional wooden boards become moldy, as I have done.

PLA Filament 3D Prints Display

With its vibrant colors, smooth finish, and ease of printing, Geeetech PLA filament is perfect for printing aesthetically pleasing items such as figurines, home decor, or even educational tools.

How Can You Start A Business with 3D Printing?

Starting a 3D printing business has become more accessible than ever, thanks to affordable printer models and versatile filament availability. Whether it’s producing custom phone cases, jewelry, or even cosplay items, you can use Geeetech PLA filament to create high-quality, visually stunning products.

What Kind of Primer Is Good for PLA Filament?

Priming your PLA prints is smart if you plan to paint them. Spray primers work well, and make sure to choose a primer that adheres well to plastic. Light sanding before priming also helps the paint stick better, providing a smoother final product.

Final Decision

PLA filament is an excellent all-around choice for beginners and experts alike, offering ease of use, eco-friendly attributes, and a vibrant range of colors for creative projects. When weighing PLA vs ABS filament or PETG filament vs PLA, consider what properties you prioritize—whether it’s ease of use, strength, or versatility.

With Geeetech’s variety of PLA options, you can find the best 3D filament that suits your printing needs, bringing your creative visions to life.

3D Printing Carbon Fiber Filaments are commonly classified as PLA, ABS, PETG, Nylon based, etc. This filament cannot be 100% carbon, it needs to be mixed with a polymer base to make it more flexible, similar to metal-infused filaments it is one kind of composite material made by infusing fragments.

The fiber strands inside the carbon fiber filaments are divided into long and short. Except for a few professionals who use continuous carbon fiber filaments for printing, most people choose carbon fiber composite filaments to print objects. The diameter of the chopped carbon fiber particle polymer is about 0.01 mm, which is more suitable for the printing process.

How does this carbon fiber filament increase the strength and rigidity of the printed object? This is because after the printer heats the carbon fiber filament, the carbon fiber particles will align along the direction of the printer during the printing process. The carbon fiber particles will be evenly distributed in the printed object.

Geeetech 3D Carbon fiber PLA filament

Geeetech has launched Carbon Fiber PLA Filament which can be widely used for functional parts or industrial-grade accessories. It can apply to most extrusion-based FDM 3D printers.

We have classic black carbon fiber PLA filament available and we are going to release more colors. 13.99 USD/1KG, it is one kind of mixture material of carbon fiber and PLA. If you want to print hard and flexible print, Geeetech carbon fiber filament would be a good choice.

Specifications are as follows:

Diameter: 1.75mm Diameter, dimensional accuracy + / – 0.03 mm

Temp of Print bed: 40℃-60℃

Temp of Hotend: 190℃ -215℃

Suggestion:  Use a 0.6 mm stainless steel nozzle, and clean the 3D printer nozzle as soon as possible each time you print a model

Is carbon fiber stronger than ABS filament?

Carbon materials perform superbly in long-term durability, flame retardance, and chemically resistant properties. It meets the requirements of the outdoor environments and especially it’s lighter than other materials thus it is widely used for auto manufacturation and space devices.

Carbon material: 5407 MPa (elongation at break of around 350%)

ABS (elongation at break of 10-50%)

ABS– Strength at Break (Tensile): 29.8 – 43 MPa

–Strength at Yield (Tensile): 29.6 – 48 MPa

The toughness of carbon fiber filaments is based on the percentage of carbon fibers’ filling. We made a test between Geeetech Carbon Fiber PLA filament and ABS filament below.

Applications of carbon fiber filament in 3D printing

For 3D makers who love tougher materials, carbon fiber filament is a great alternative to expensive polycarbonate (PC) or PEEK. However, we kindly ask you to choose a 0.6 mm diameter stainless steel nozzle to avoid 3D printer clogging issues. This is a good solution for wood series filament printing.

Carbon fiber filaments have been extensively applied to various fields. It contributes a lot to five industries aerospace, automotive, sport, 3D printing, and medical treatment. In aerospace, carbon fiber filaments are used to produce drones, satellite accessories, and lightweight parts. In the automotive industry, it will be used to produce durable, lightweight parts to enhance fuel efficiency and performance. As for the sports industry, it’s a frequently used material for outdoor sports tools or equipment, such as bikes and protective parts. In the 3D printing industry, we rarely use full pure carbon fiber filaments, we use composite carbon fiber filaments. We can utilize it to print mechanical parts, household tools, etc.

In the medical treatment industry, reinforced PEEK filament from Evonik brings more possibilities to hospital devices. It can be used in 3D-printed medical implants. Their filaments have advantages in the ability to define the alignment of the carbon fibers during the 3D printing process, high bio-compatibility for metal allergy patients, and no x-ray artifacts.

What improvements have we made to the new bunch of Geeetech carbon fiber filament?

We will show you the test results between the first bunch of Geeetech carbon fiber filament and the new bunch of Geeetech PLA-C (new bunch) carbon fiber filament in 4 aspects:

• Is it easy to get printer nozzles clogged?
• Is the stringing heavy?
• Comparison of brittleness
• 3D print test by Mizar 3D printer

1. Is it easy to get clogged?

Geeetech Carbon Fiber PLA filaments show good stability during printing, and material blocking is rare. Geeetech PLA-C (new bunch) PLA material has been improved, the blocking phenomenon is significantly reduced, suitable for various printing tasks.

2. Is the stringing heavy?

Geeetech Carbon Fiber PLA has light stringing and a smooth surface after printing. Geeetech PLA-C (new bunch) has moderate wiredrawing, which can be reduced by optimizing the printing temperature and speed

3. Comparison of brittleness

Geeetech Carbon Fiber PLA has good toughness and is suitable for printing mechanical parts. Geeetech PLA-C has the best flexibility and is not easy to break.

4. 3D print test by Mizar 3D printer