When you start using PLA as your print material, you may suddenly wonder: Can it be used in watery environments?
It's not a new idea because this question comes up a lot in the topic of printing. So, let's talk about that.
When we discuss whether PLA is soluble in water, we should think about what conditions we want to meet so that we can guarantee the answers we will come up with are consistent.
Is PLA soluble in water?
PLA is a bioplastic. It is made from potatoes, corn, rice, and other similar plants and vegetables. Although it is waterproof, it is not like others
Plastics made from petrochemicals can be stored in water for 500-1000 years.
PLA decomposes much faster in water than conventional plastics and accelerates decomposition under certain environmental conditions.
Environmental variables that affect how soluble PLA 3D printing is in water include filament branding, processing additives, biological activity, and external variables, including ultraviolet light, temperature, and oxidation of the water itself.
In addition, organic substances such as bacteria and inorganic materials such as inorganic salts degrade polylactic acid (PLA) polymer chains in impure water, causing them to break down into smaller chains called monomers.
When the plastic reaches that size, microbes start eating it, which is actually called compost, but is often mistaken for "dissolving in water." And this reaction can also occur in the soil.
Does PLA absorb water?
PLA filaments are slightly hygroscopic, which means it absorbs moisture (I say mild because it absorbs moisture more slowly than other filaments).
This means that both the filament and the finished print expand and become brittle over time. To avoid this, you should store plaster in a plastic container or a sealed bag with a silicone wrap.
If it has become damp, then you should dry it in a filament drying box or oven. The result of this is that you can restore most of its performance, but still not eliminate some of the negative effects of moisture. So please try to keep your filament in a dry state.
How to make your PLA waterproof?
1) Increase the thickness of the shell
Increasing the thickness of the enclosure strengthens your barrier, and thicker the barrier means that your prints can remain in the same conditions longer without being destroyed
2) Print a model with simple geometry
The more complex your model is, the more likely it is that your prints will have some defects, and therefore more water will enter through the gaps, ahead of schedule destroying the structure inside the model
3) Cover with a waterproof coating or wax to make your prints waterproof
Just like you paint your steel components to prevent rust, covering your prints with a water-repellent coating or wax is a good idea.
It is important to note that we recommend that you use sandpaper to sand the surface of the print in advance. This step facilitates the adhesion of waterproof coatings or waxes.
This reduces the gap between the coating and the print, and finally, we will get a waterproof print.
Can I use PLA prints in the fish tank?
PLA is a bioplastic. It is non-toxic, making it the right choice for use in your aquarium, but there are some important factors to consider when using PLA filaments in aquariums,
to minimize damage to your fish or other aquatic pets. PLA is safe on its own, but some PLA manufacturers use dangerous additives that can harm the aquarium ecosystem.
If you want to prevent PLA prints from putting hazardous chemicals into your tank, you should avoid using PLA prints that are not marked as food safe or have not been properly vetted for aquarium use.
Please do not use composite materials based on PLA such as luminous PLA/marble PLA/wood PLA.
We recommend that you use a standard PLA that is transparent or white
RAW MATERIALS FOR PLA: LX175 and 4032D are ideal for you. Most brands provide technical support emails, so it's a good idea to send a friendly inquiry email
Way to or for the information you need.
Gratkit's PLA uses 4032D as the raw material for PLA, and the theoretical thermal resistance temperature of 4032D is about 5°C higher than LX175.
PLA is biodegradable, so due to the unique conditions of the fish tank, it will eventually break down, and over time, PLA plastic will break down and break up. This is especially true for brine tanks.
3D prints made of PLA require post-processing to prevent complete damage, such as waterproofing. Postpress processing is important to protect prints from decomposition. They also give them a proper surface finish.
As I mentioned, I recommend using either white or transparent for PLA because it does not endanger the health of the fish.
Result
Some claim that in just two or three weeks, your PLA prints will completely break up in the water. But there is certainly a lot of controversy surrounding this topic.
While PLA can become more vulnerable over time, this is primarily due to ultraviolet radiation, not because it comes into contact with water, unless the temperature of the water is around 70 degrees Celsius. In this case, the print will break up quickly!
So, basically, you can make prints with PLA and use them in water, as long as they don't get exposed to sunlight all day. I've seen PLA prints in water that can be preserved in water for more than three years without any obvious decomposition.
Ps: Some users mentioned that their PLA broke within a few months of use, and we need to note that some manufacturers will use PLA that recycles from other application areas and then uses it for 3D printing filaments. Regenerate PLA a lot of performance
It can't be compared to the original PLA, after all, when you choose a low price, you will lose some performance of it.
