“biodegradable”. For PLA Plastics, they are only biodegradable under commercial composting environments (CNC Kitchen made a video about it). For other things, I think it is mostly the same (CBC Made a video on this too (they looked at plastic alternatives though, and the duration of their testing was a bit short))
This. In our city, many people put their organic waste into plastic bags (which are labeled as biodegradable) because they are sold at many stores. However, after doing a tour through our recycling facility, they told us they don’t have the equipment to properly compost it.
PHA (Polyhydroxyalkanoates) is a truly biodegradable plastic (ASTM D6691Marine Biodegradable). Some bacteria naturally make it. The stuff I have is very bendy/rubbery so its not really a PLA alternative plastic though if you need something stiff/hard.
Another plus is that it doesn’t need a heated bed so it uses less electricity to print with.
That sounds really cool/ interesting! Keeping the bendy-ness/ rubbery-ness in mind, would you say that it could be a TPU/ PETG (certain types) alternative?
I personally have never printed TPU but from my understanding it is similar. I will say it is possible to probably get the structure of a PHA print rigid as long as a part doesn’t have super thin walls.
I haven’t made a significant amount of prints with PHA but from what I’ve seen a side that is walls/perimeters only is still very bendy while walls with some infill actually locks up into a more rigid structure better. Also, it isn’t brittle and is quite a bit tougher, and is much more temp stable (I usually see claims it softens around 110C)
Edit: apparently my stuff is specifically flex PHA. PHA properties depend on a variety of factors such as the bacteria’s diet. So other PHAs may be stiffer.
“biodegradable”. For PLA Plastics, they are only biodegradable under commercial composting environments (CNC Kitchen made a video about it). For other things, I think it is mostly the same (CBC Made a video on this too (they looked at plastic alternatives though, and the duration of their testing was a bit short))
This. In our city, many people put their organic waste into plastic bags (which are labeled as biodegradable) because they are sold at many stores. However, after doing a tour through our recycling facility, they told us they don’t have the equipment to properly compost it.
Pla filament does actually biodwgrade in a regular household compost. It just takes years
Yeah, it would still be a massive improvement if it took 20 years instead of 1000.
PHA (Polyhydroxyalkanoates) is a truly biodegradable plastic (ASTM D6691Marine Biodegradable). Some bacteria naturally make it. The stuff I have is very bendy/rubbery so its not really a PLA alternative plastic though if you need something stiff/hard.
Another plus is that it doesn’t need a heated bed so it uses less electricity to print with.
That sounds really cool/ interesting! Keeping the bendy-ness/ rubbery-ness in mind, would you say that it could be a TPU/ PETG (certain types) alternative?
I personally have never printed TPU but from my understanding it is similar. I will say it is possible to probably get the structure of a PHA print rigid as long as a part doesn’t have super thin walls.
I haven’t made a significant amount of prints with PHA but from what I’ve seen a side that is walls/perimeters only is still very bendy while walls with some infill actually locks up into a more rigid structure better. Also, it isn’t brittle and is quite a bit tougher, and is much more temp stable (I usually see claims it softens around 110C)
There is a PHA specific subreddit (I know, I know).
Edit: apparently my stuff is specifically flex PHA. PHA properties depend on a variety of factors such as the bacteria’s diet. So other PHAs may be stiffer.