I know PLA is biodegradable, and quite fast under specific, controled circumstances, but how about normal use? Can a part hold up for years or decades, or does it get soft and sticky after a few months or years? I do not particularly like the glossy appearance of PC, and would like to continue using PLA and PLACF.
Head will effect it, also if it’s going to be outside make sure you paint it to keep the uv rays off. Petg probably would hold up better outside I would still suggest painting if it’s going to be in the sun
I have a rain cover on my Ring doorbel made out of black PLA.
It hads been there for 4 years now out in the elements. So it catches rain, direct sunlight, cold, heat… everything!
It has not changed since the day I put it up there.
So I wouldn’t worry too much your products will auto degrade anytime soon…
It was tested by CNC kitchen for example. Maybe you Check out his Video
it’s only indoor use, room temperature.
Thanks, that helps, sure seems enough proof.
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You can likely print it yourself and replace the case.
No I don’t like the Ring doorbell anyway. It will be replaced very soon.
According to Google, it’s not biodegradable in nature and requires industrial processes to degrade it:
Bambu Lab’s PLA Basic filament is biodegradable and compostable. It’s made from Polylactic Acid (PLA), a material derived from renewable resources like corn starch or sugarcane. However, the biodegradation process is typically not natural and requires industrial composting facilities with specific conditions, according to Carbiolice and MTPak Coffee.
Elaboration:
- Compostability:
PLA, including Bambu Lab’s PLA Basic, is biodegradable under specific conditions, including industrial composting facilities where high temperatures and the right microorganisms are present.
- Not Natural Degradation:
PLA doesn’t naturally degrade in the environment. It requires the controlled conditions of industrial composting to break down into carbon dioxide and water.
- Time Frame:
While traditional petroleum-based plastics can take hundreds or even thousands of years to break down, PLA can degrade in a matter of months or years within industrial composting facilities.
I have some pla items I made 10 to 12 years ago that have been indoors only. As far as I can tell without testing they are about the same as they were when I made them. Note these are non-structural Parts but just containers and stuff used around the house. They were all made with e-sun pla Plus
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Biodegradable is a loose term, used for marketing wankery to liberals to enable the self righteous feel good with out actually working.
Pla will not “biodegrade” in a fashion that most people will associate with. Go look at the eco straws and cutlery; it will say what method it test to biodegradable… Next go look at that standard. You will see this can’t occur in nature; but is an energy intensive industrial process. You may soon realize that its a bullshit concept to trick idiots.
What PLA will actually do in real environment is degrade. What this means for you; it will become porous as the molecular bonds break apart with uv, water and temperature (maybe some single cell life but not to the extent you may think with biodegradable). This in turn causes it to become brittle, faded and warp. To the extent it becomes unusable for your application will depend on your application and the environmental conditions of use.
Ypu want to test for your self, go print a benchy. Go to your yard and find a spot where the grass is healthy. Use a garden shovel and slice through the sod. Lift it and put the benchy between the root base and soil. This will place it at the most optimal conditions for natural biodegradable
Opnion: pla is a very useful prototyping plastic, it is not a robust nor stable plastic for long term. It’s cheap, so easy to work with a caveman can do it; so its popular. “Long term” use should be limited to disposable indoor trinkets.
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Exactly, most people do not realize the temperature and time it takes to biodegrade PLA. It does not happen in nature. At least with the PLA we use for printing with all the modifiers added in.
As long as people hear biodegradable they feel good and will continue on. Wait until a kid does a school project that goes viral on turtles and fish dying from choking on a benchy. A ban on 3d printing will begin.
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I live in Southern California and the summer heat can get a little crazy. I made a few bird feeders from PETG and 1 from PLA. The PLA warped in a month and then became super brittle after a few more months. It didn’t really “biodegrade though” These prints had thin walls so chunkier parts might last longer.
It’s better to use the right material for your application. PLA is cool for indoor stuff and things that don’t move a lot or don’t need to be functional or withstand heat and UV.