PLA is arguably one of the most applied and the best 3D printer filament on the market. It is highly applied across the FDM 3D printing industry for good reasons. One of the explanations for why it is highly applied is that it is very affordable. Additionally, it requires simple treatment or setting before printing. Additionally, it requires less temperature for extrusion. Perhaps the most attractive thing about PLA filament is that it is biodegradable and eco-friendly. The material is made using plant-based raw materials. It also does not emit any dangerous fumes to the environment when it is applied. These things cannot be said about most of the other filament options on the market. In this write-up, we look at the PLA 3D filament applications.
Applications of PLA 3D printer filament
As mentioned earlier, PLA 3D printing filament is a highly applied form of 3D printing filament. For this reason, the filament is applied in a wide range of areas. Below are some areas where this filament is applied;
1. The food industry
In the food industry, PLA filament is used for making food packaging. It is also used for making candy wrappers and disposable tableware. The primary reason why PLA printer filament is applied in the food industry is that it is made from safe materials. The product is made from plant-based raw materials. This means that it will not emit any harmful chemicals that will impact the quality and safety of the food.
2. The medical industry
Another area where this 3D filament is applied is in the medical industry. In this industry, it is used to make disposable garments, surgical implanted screws, pins, rods, and mesh, as well as making medical suturing. The fact that PLA 3D printing filament is highly safe also makes it great for these applications.
The filament is made from safe plant-based materials that do not have any adverse impacts. For this reason, PLA 3D printing filament is highly applied in the medical industry. It is also worth mentioning that PLA medical products naturally break down within the body after around 6 to 24 months. For this reason, it is used to make mesh, rods, and implants, and other medical products that go inside the body.
3. The hygiene industry
PLA 3D filament is also highly applied in various hygiene products like diapers and disposable garments. This is because PLA filament is considered the safest type of 3D printing material in existence.
Take Note
In most areas, the application of PLA filament is applied because of the following reasons;
- It is safe
- It is easy to use
- It is highly biodegradable, hence dissolves in the body after a while
- It is eco-friendly
Final word
It is worth mentioning that all these PLA filament areas are greatly dependent on 3D technology. PLA filament and 3D printing are directly linked. Therefore, it is only applicable in areas where 3D printing is accepted and applied. Since 3D printing is a highly popular additive manufacturing technique, the applications of PLA filament likely will continue increasing.