What is PLA Filament?
Where PLA comes from
PLA is a bioplastic produced by fermenting plant starches (corn, sugarcane, cassava) into lactic acid, then polymerising into long chains. The result behaves like a conventional plastic but with a plant-based origin.
Why PLA is so popular
- Prints at low temperature (200 to 220 C) on any modern FDM printer
- No enclosure required
- Minimal smell during printing
- Forgiving of beginner mistakes
- Cheapest filament per kilo
- Widest colour and finish range of any filament
PLA limitations
- Softens at around 55 C, so it fails in hot cars or summer sun
- Brittle compared to PETG or nylon
- Not waterproof for long-term use
- Not particularly UV stable
Browse PLA
All PLA at Siddament. Related: PLA Filament Australia, PLA vs PETG.