bioplasticsMAGAZINE_1406

3D printing
Different Bioplastics
for 3D printing
Besides ABS as a fossil-based plastic, when talking about
3D printing, often only PLA is mentioned. But there are
quite a few more bioplastics already being used as environmentally
friendly materials for 3D printing. In this article,
the authors give a brief introduction to the application of some
typical bioplastics in the current 3D printing field.
PLA
In Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), a PLA filament allows
the production of high quality prints. 3D printed parts from
PLA filaments show much less warping and curling. Thus
PLA can be successfully printed without the need for a heated
bed. Other details such as sharp corners and edges print well
and PLA printed objects will generally have a rather glossy
look and feel. Kids can easily make their fantastic ideas come
true without any worry about toxic evaporates as PLA is FDA
(US Food and Drug Administration) certified. Scientists are
researching the use of PLA in Selective Laser Sintering (SLS),
too. The authors believe that the potential of PLA to be used
for SLS in the future is as huge as it is for FDM. For the future,
one target of modifying PLA is to make it stronger and maybe
even allow transparent 3D prints.
PVA
PVA or polyvinyl alcohol is a biodegradable and watersoluble
polymer product made from fossil resources. As a
new material for making FDM filaments PVA can be used
as temporary supporting material for overhangs in the
3D-printing process. After printing it can easily dissolve in
water with no odour and no toxic residues, which mean that
it is very convenient to clear up. Esun has produced such
support material and it enjoys considerable popularity. In
addition, PVA performs very well in combination with PLA.
PHA
PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates) are a family of 100 % biobased
and biodegradable polyesters. On the aspect of 3D printing,
PHA is comparable to PLA. It can be applied in the form
of filaments in FDM and first attempts are proceeding to
research usability for SLS. However the price of this kind of
filament is somewhat higher than PLA, and its processing
window is narrow. PHA creates a slight odour during
3D printing. Nevertheless blends of PLA and PHA are also
already available.
PBAT
PBAT (poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) is a biodegradable
aliphatic aromatic copolyester, today mainly
produced from fossil resources (with first attempts to make
it at least partly biobased). One of the unique features is its
enhanced ductility compared with that of other 3D printable
bioplastics. In 3D printing it can be used to make FDM
filament. PBAT has already gained much popularity due to
its biodegradability and its ductility. Esun’s new flexible PBAT
product can replace conventional TPU and TPE for more
environmentally friendly products.
PETG
Partly biobased PETG (polyethylene terephthalate co-
1,4-cylclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate) is a clear,
transparent, amorphous thermoplastic that can be injection
moulded or extruded. PETG can be semi-rigid to rigid and it
is fully recyclable. PETG gives a good gas barrier and a fair
moisture barrier, as well as presenting a good barrier to
alcohol and other solvents. At the same time, it is strong and
impact-resistant. Although already some companies have
By:
Yihu (Kevin) Yang, CEO,
Yu Wang, Xianglian Xiao,
Daimei Chen and Jun Qiu
Shenzhen Esun Industrial Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
28 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/14] Vol. 9