Polylactic acid
NatureWorks Gets $350M Loan to Build PLA Manufacturing Plant in Thailand
NatureWorks makes a lot of the polylactic acid (PLA) plastic we consume with 3D printing. PLA is also used for packaging, medical nonwovens, interior decoration materials, and more. By not…
Harvard Researchers Develop 3D Printed Synthetic Heart Valve that Grows with Children
A child’s heart valves can be damaged by rheumatic fever, which can then cause rheumatic heart disease and lead to even more serious health problems, such as stroke and heart…
Markforged 3D Printing PLA Filament Expands the Digital Forge
Massachusetts-based Markforged (NYSE: MKFG), which went public via a SPAC deal last year, has added a new material to its portfolio with the launch of Precise PLA. This specialized version…
3D Printed Vaginal Rings Could Treat Bacterial Infections
There are plenty of examples in which 3D printing has been used to develop drug delivery systems, but this research out of Hungary is tackling the issue from a new…
3Doodler Used to Improve Indirect Orthodontic Bracket Transfer Trays
3D printing pens are often used when making fun and beautiful works of art, as well as for educational purposes, but they have also proved useful for medical applications as…
3D Printing News Briefs, November 27, 2021: Sustainability, Metal 3D Printing, & More
In this edition of 3D Printing News Briefs, we’re starting with stories from Aleph Farms and Orbex regarding their efforts to keep our planet healthy by, respectively, working towards net…
NatureWorks to Invest $600M in New PLA Plant
The largest manufacturer of polylactic acid (PLA) plastic is finalizing its plant to open a new PLA manufacturing complex in Thailand. NatureWorks has received final authorization from its parent companies…
NatureWorks Announces First-of-its-Kind PLA Processing Plant
Biopolymer maker NatureWorks has announced plans to build the world’s first fully integrated polylactic acid resin plant in Thailand. The plant will produce lactic acid, lactide, and the company’s Ingeo…
Testing the Strength of Hollow, 3D-Printed PLA Spheres
Researchers from Romania have studied the mechanical properties of parts fabricated from polylactic acid, releasing the details of their recent study in ‘Mechanical Behavior of 3D Printed PLA Hollow Spherical…
Recycling Plastics in Fabrication & Design: 3D Printing Raw Materials from Plastic Waste
Alaeddine Oussai, Zoltán Bártfai, László Kátai, and István Szalkai explore ways to improve recycling in 3D printing, releasing the details of their recent study in ‘Development of 3D Printing Raw…
3D Printing with Bioplastics: Engineering Biodegradable PHA Blends
Jackie Anderson offers a review regarding one of the most critical 3D printing topics today: materials. As innovation continues to grow, so do the options regarding software, hardware, and different…
Focus on Improving PLA Mechanical Properties with Addition of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate)
In ‘Improving Mechanical Properties for Extrusion-Based Additive Manufacturing of Poly(Lactic Acid) by Annealing and blending with Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate),’ researchers from Ghent University in Belgium, and Sichuan University in China, explore new…
3D Printing in Indonesia: Researching PLA Infill Pattern & Density
In the recently published ‘Infill pattern and density effects on the tensile properties of 3D printed PLA material,’ researchers from Indonesia delve further into the details of fabrication with polylactic…
How does PLA Color Influence Mechanical Properties in FDM 3D Printing?
All kinds of research has been conducted regarding the mechanical properties of 3D printing materials, such as how they are effected by things like infill density, build orientation, temperature, and…
Investigating the Effects of 3D Printing Temperatures on Copper Metal PLA Composites
In ‘Effect of Printing Temperature on Mechanical Properties of Copper Metal Polylactide Acid,’ authors Mohd Fara Zureel Ikhqwan bin Mohd Arpan and Lim Joon Hoong outline their findings regarding metal…
Russian Lab Optimizes FDM 3D Printing Processes Leading to Increased Part Strength of 108%
In this study, Russian researchers sought to optimize FFF 3D printing parameters further, improving on strength and optimization processes. Their findings were released in the recently published ‘Desktop Fabrication of…
Researchers Investigate Tensile Properties of 3D Printed PLA Specimens: Is 80% Infill Best?
Plastic is still one of the most popular, least expensive 3D printing materials, and polylactic acid, better known as PLA, is at the top of the bunch, due to its…
Comparing 3D Printed Parts Made with Virgin and Recycled PLA
While 3D printing continues to grow in leaps and bounds, it still creates a lot of waste, due to removed support structures, disposable prototypes, failed prints, and multiple iterations. Luckily,…
Can Adding Wood Powder and Lubricant Make PLA 3D Printing Materials Stronger and More Flexible?
Plastic is the least expensive, most used 3D printing material out there – as an example, right now on my desk, I have seven little animal figurines, and one tiny…
3D Printing Improves X-Ray Diffraction Experiments
I was never very good at chemistry experiments in school, and now that I’ve just heard the word mechanochemistry for the first time, I’m starting to get nervous all over again,…
Toy Company Fidgetbase Takes Fidget Spinners Back to Basics with 3D Printing and Affordable STL Files
As the school year starts wrapping up, it’s time to talk a little more about the year’s hottest toy – or is it a stress reliever and a way to…
Teknor Apex Announces New High-Impact, High-Heat PLA Filament
PLA, or polylactic acid, is by far the most popular material to use with your 3D printer. And while it is generally considered one of the easier materials to use, especially…