I don’t know any filaments that aren’t. I guess you could look up the MSDS for the various materials. PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, etc.
I’m guessing you won’t get a definitive answer here or maybe at all.
Without knowing all the additives used to make the filament, the MSDS for PLA or ABS or whatever other filament types being considered won’t be a full answer either.
A while back I found some investigations into PLA that was used to make sutures but there wasn’t information on pigments or plasticizers included. So many companies pump out filament with proprietary additives and no information on even what they are.
The major component may be all you can find information on but that won’t tell you if there is anything dangerous added during manufacture.
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Have you looked at TPE?
Yeah, there are some that claim to be suitable for “prosthetic” use
But I’m not sure whether or not that is only referring to color
Yes, I was just hoping that maybe someone had already done the research and identified a suitable filament brand and model number with a datasheet alleging safety, etc. I mean, especially now that people are wearing 3D printed shoes, I would assume there’s a big enough market.
Failing that, the one fallback that seems obviously worth investigating would the the “food grade” filaments, since presumably that would have to meet an even higher standard.
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It’s more than purely academic. On Sunday I incurred an avulsion to my thumb. On Monday the hand surgeon said to keep open to the air, but that left it open to being bumped into, which causes a lot of pain. So, I CADed a thumb protector, and it works at both protecting and keeping it open to the air, but I’d like to take it one step further and use an ideal plastic for the task.
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I’m thinking @familieKP would be knowledgeable about this. Her models are PLA and PLA with TPU straps.
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I think PLA is safe for the skin because it is biodegradable and is made of cornstarch or sugarcane, which kind of also makes it food safe.
Lead paint was popular when I was a kid.
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I’m going for this because I can get it delivered to me TODAY:
and this one is far less expensive, available TOMORROW:
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Please keep in midn the way how your FDM printer is working. You are printing layers on layers. Between these layers there are micro gaps - the perfect home for all kind of germs. That’s why FDM prints without after-print-finishing can’t be food safe, independent of the used filament.
In addition most companies will never tell you the recipe of their filament, so you won’t know, what is in there. Just think about the coloring…
All in all it is a personal decision. I used for example PETG for kitchen tools and put them into the dishwasher. But I would never used them for storing food itself.
Skin also absorbs another consideration to keep in mind
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Agreed! I was going to post what I had found out regarding this, but juidging from what I’ve read here so far I don’t sense there’s a strong appetite for it. For anyone interested though, I’ll just mention in passing that ISO 10993 . appears to be one of the relevant standards, itself comprised of numerous smaller standards, each with their own sub-numbering scheme.
3d printed prosthetics - Search
There does look to be a growing number of 3d printed prosthetics on the net
so id assume the sock they add for comfort or something similar may be of some use , but as has already been mentioned, plant based or food safe , doesnt mean it makes it viable for continued skin contact
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Thanks for the correction! Yes, that does seem to be right. Evidently need to look for explicit skin-contact biocompatibility certifications
A little Ott , but would you use this tattoo ink for anything else ?
I’m thinking more like maybe this:
would be closer to what I’m looking for. That is, assuming the certifications can be trusted as real.