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This is our choice, the colours we have avalable to us is huge. Whether it's a basic one colour filament or a graded colour, and some are a tri-colour giving awesome effects.
Polylactic acid, also known as PLA, is a thermoplastic monomer derived from renewable, organic sources such as corn starch or sugar cane. Using biomass resources makes PLA production different from most plastics, which are produced using fossil fuels through the distillation and polymerization of petroleum.
Despite the raw material differences, PLA can be produced using the same equipment as petrochemical plastics, making PLA manufacturing processes relatively cost-efficient. PLA is the second most produced bioplastic (after thermoplastic starch) and has similar characteristics to polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), or polystyrene (PS), as well as being biodegradable.
We will only use this for specialist applications where PLA is not suitable due to strength, etc
PETG is a glycol-modified variant of PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) and the most popular material in the PET family of plastics. The glycol in PETG offers improved printability and toughness compared to other PET copolyesters, making it the most suitable variant for 3D printing. Due to the benefits and popularity of PETG, it is uncommon to print pure PET filaments.
PETG offers improved mechanical and thermal properties when compared to PLA, while maintaining excellent printability and reliability. Although not a direct replacement for ABS, PETG is a great choice for users who experience difficulty printing ABS due to warping or cracking and require improved mechanical properties to PLA with excellent dimensional stability.
PETG exhibits a low chemical resistance and moderate temperature resistance, softening at 80°C
Yes, PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified) is recyclable, but it's not commonly accepted in curbside recycling programs due to its similarity to PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and the potential for contamination in recycling streams. While PETG can be recycled using similar processes as PET, the presence of glycol can cause issues with recycling machinery designed for standard PET.
Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is any of the polyurethane polymers that are thermoplastic; that is, they become pliable when heated and harden when cooled. This is in contrast to most polyurethanes, which are thermosets, hardening irreversibly. Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) reveal vast combinations of both physical properties and processing applications. Usually, they are flexible and elastic with good resistance to impact, abrasion and weather. With TPUs, there is the possibility for colouring as well as fabrication using a wide range of techniques. The incorporation of TPUs could therefore improve the overall durability of many products.
TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) filament, commonly used in 3D printing for flexible parts, can be recycled, though not as widely as some other plastics. While it can be melted down and re-extruded into new filament, it's crucial to separate it from other plastics due to differing properties. Specialist elastomer recyclers exist, but are not as common as facilities for other plastic.