Polylactic acid
Polylactic acid (PLA) is a type of plastic. Specifically it is a type of polyester. It is the most popular plastic for 3D printing. It has many properties that make it an ideal material for 3D printing. It has a low melting point, and it does not shrink much when it cools. PLA is usually made from sugar or starch.
Environmental impact
PLA can break down in a compost, but the most common way of disposing of it is burning it; it does not release any toxic fumes because it is only made of hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon; it releases carbon dioxide but that's it.
Polylactic Acid Media
Generation of poly from lactic acid and lactide. Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse*
A corn form 3D printed using corn-derivative PLA (polylactic acid).
PLA has SPI resin ID code 7
Mulch film made of PLA-blend "bio-flex"
Four polylactic acid cups.
Tea bags made of PLA. Peppermint tea is enclosed.
3D printing of a microcoil using a conductive mixture of polylactide and carbon nanotubes.
3D printed human skull with data from computed tomography. Transparent PLA.
