What considerations should be taken when storing unused PLA material?

Avoid storing unused PLA filament for extended periods (Greater than 12 months). Buy and use just enough to keep you going for the year. Store your PLA filament in an airtight container with some sort of desiccant. Airtight pet food containers are relatively cheap and large enough to hold a decent supply of PLA.

How do you store PLA material?

To ensure your PLA and ABS filament remains dry, just return them to a sealed bag with dessiccant after use. The dessiccant will prevent/slow the material from absorbing moisture. Nylon and more sensitive materials should be stored in an actively dried container.

Does PLA need to be kept dry?

PLA filament needs to be dried before use, as does all 3D printing filament. Of course, it's best to keep the filament dry at all times, but if it gets wet somehow, you will need to dry or cure it before you can use it again. The reason is that moist PLA filament will swell and change in texture.

How do you keep PLA from degrading?

It is the best option for items that are to be kept and used indoors. 3D printed parts made of PLA aren't typically strong enough to support a large amount of stress. Keeping PLA prints away from moisture, heat, or sunlight is the best way to make them last longer.

How do you keep PLA good?

3D Printer Filament Storage Options and Why They Are Needed

How do I preserve my filament?

Filament is best kept dry in vacuum bags, a dry box or cabinet or a specialized 3D filament box. You can put it in a food dehydrator or an oven to dry it. A moisture-free environment is ideal for keeping your filament dry. Using desiccants in an enclosed area is the best method.

How should you store filaments?

Store your filament spools in transparent storage boxes with sealed lids. Use a cheap renewable dehumidifier to absorb any remaining moisture inside the boxes.

How long will unopened PLA last?

In short, when you place PLA under normal room temperature, it can last for a very long time – say 12 to 18 years. Depending on where and how you store it, 3D printed objects made from PLA can last from a month, to 2 years and up to many years. It can break down at different rates depending on its environment.

How long can I store PLA?

PLA. Typically, PLA Filament has a shelf life of about 2-3 years. This means you can buy it, store it in a cool, dry, and dark place in its original packaging (to prevent moisture), and still be able to print with it almost 3 years later. Keep in mind that after 2 years the print quality may start to degrade.

What conditions does PLA need to biodegrade?

To biodegrade, PLA requires a laundry list of conditions to effectively break down. Specifically - oxygen, a temperature of 140+ degrees, and a 2/3 cocktail of organic substrate. Collectively, these are absent in any scenario outside of industrial composting facilities.

Does moisture affect PLA?

PLA is an organic material that readily absorbs moisture, and is extremely sensitive to trace water content. Moisture also affects the diameter of the filament when it in storage.

What humidity should PLA be stored at?

The optimal storage temperature for PLA, Tough PLA, PETG, CPE, CPE+, PC, Nylon, PP, TPU 95A, and Breakaway is between -20 °C to +30 °C. Store ABS between 15 °C and 25 °C and PVA between 10 °C and 30 °C. Furthermore, a relative humidity of below 50% is recommended for PVA, Nylon, and TPU 95A.

How do you protect PLA from humidity?

Some experts have suggested that PLA should be kept in an airproof box that can protect it from moisture especially if you are working in a humid environment. No matter if a filament is hygroscopic or non-hygroscopic, it is recommended to store them in a dry box to assure better quality and printing experience.

Do I need to store filament?

Keeping filament in an airtight container is a must to prevent the absorption of humidity from the air, and the use of vacuum-sealed containers or ones with desiccant is even better.

Does PLA degrade?

In the wild, it takes at least 80 years for PLA to decompose, which means that in the sea and on land it contributes not only to conventional petroleum-based plastics but also to environmental pollution from plastics and above all microplastics.

Does PLA get brittle over time?

For a start, PLA, which stands for poly-lactic acid, is known to be relatively brittle. The property means that it is inherently brittle to a certain extent, particularly compared to materials like ABS. PLA is also known to degenerate rather rapidly, which explains why it eventually snaps off during printing.

Does PLA break down in sunlight?

So the answer is: NO, PLA will not melt in the sun. Although it won't melt, it will become brittle and lose its tensile strength and impact resistance.

How long will PLA last in water?

3D print left in water for 3 years. PLA is a type of bioplastic. It is made from potatoes, corn, rice, and other similar plants and vegetables. Although it is water-resistant, it is not like other plastics made from petrochemicals which can last in water for 500-1000 years.

Can I reuse PLA?

The short answer is, you can definitely recycle PLA filament, but not in the same way you can recycle your milk jugs, food containers, and other types of everyday plastic. PLA has a lower melting point than other plastics, so it can't go into the same bundle with the rest.

What happens when PLA absorbs moisture?

The Hygroscopic nature of PLA means that it will absorb moisture when left exposed for long periods of time without being properly stored in a sealed container with silica beads or silica gel packets. Once PLA has absorbed moisture it will become brittle and break more easily, and printing with it will be harder.

What temperature should it be to dry PLA?

Oven Drying

DIYers and professional 3D printers still utilize oven baking to get the moisture out of ABS and PLA filament. The drying process is similar to baking your favorite thanksgiving turkey. Just place your filament spool inside an oven and set it at the right temperature: 104 to 113°F (40 – 45 °C) for PLA.

Does PLA react with water?

PLA will absorb water, meaning water molecules diffuse between polymer chains causing volumetric swelling. PLA will NOT be affected otherwise by pure water.

Will PLA melt in water?

Neither ABS or PLA will degrade much in water. PLA is biodegradable, but it is what is known as chemically biodegradable, meaning it does not biodegrade very fast. ABS, PLA, and Nylon all are hydroscopic, but that does not mean they will absorb a bunch of water and then start degrading.

What can I do with PLA scraps?

PLA Recycling Service

Search for an online filament recycler where you can send them your scraps and they will recycle it for you. It is also possible to compost PLA, either at an industrial facility or at home. This process is likely to take around 6 months.