PLA is the friendliest FDM material — low printing temperature, almost no warp, no heated chamber required. The trade-off is low service temperature (~50 °C) and brittleness. Use it for visual prototypes, jigs that won't see heat, classroom and consumer parts.
Mechanical and physical properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 50 MPa |
| Elongation at break | 6% |
| Density | 1.24 g/cm³ |
| Modulus | 3.5 GPa |
| Glass transition Tg | 60 °C |
| Max service temperature | 50 °C |
Heat softening
PLA softens in a hot car. Don't use PLA for any part that will sit in direct sun or near 60 °C+ ambient. Switch to PETG or ABS.
Typical applications
- Visual and form-study prototypes.
- Indoor display and signage parts.
- Educational and classroom prints.
- Low-load fixtures and brackets.
Related materials
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