this post was submitted on 11 Nov 2024
83 points (96.6% liked)

3DPrinting

15590 readers
137 users here now

3DPrinting is a place where makers of all skill levels and walks of life can learn about and discuss 3D printing and development of 3D printed parts and devices.

The r/functionalprint community is now located at: !functionalprint@kbin.social or !functionalprint@fedia.io

There are CAD communities available at: !cad@lemmy.world or !freecad@lemmy.ml

Rules

If you need an easy way to host pictures, https://catbox.moe may be an option. Be ethical about what you post and donate if you are able or use this a lot. It is just an individual hosting content, not a company. The image embedding syntax for Lemmy is ![](URL)

Moderation policy: Light, mostly invisible

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

This was an ornament I printed roughly 6 years ago. Being a Christmas ornament it spent most of those 6 years stored in my roof space.

Being in Australia this would have been subject to average temperatures of 30 to 35 degrees c but also peaks across summer approaching 70 degrees c. Also in high humidity.

The PLA crumbles into tiny pieces at the softest touch.

I thought it was interesting that PLA would start to break down in these conditions.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] JohnEdwa@sopuli.xyz 5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

PLA is considered non-toxic by itself already.

And while the biodegradability/compostability is indeed rather circumstantial, the much more important part is that it's a renewable, plant based plastic. Currently the most useful way to get rid of it is to incinerate it for energy, which ends up being rather carbon neutral as it just releases the carbon the plant material used for growing itself.