Silk, matte, glitter, wood: specialty PLA at a glance
are explained briefly when you hover over or tap them.
Besides normal PLA there are many types with a special look: silky glossy, matte, with glitter, wood fibres or glowing particles. The base is always PLA, so you print them with similar settings. The additives do change flow behaviour, strength and, in part, the wear on the nozzle.
Overview
| Type | Look | Printing peculiarity | Abrasive? | Nozzle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silk | silky gloss, often metallic | slower and hotter, weaker layer adhesion | no | from 0.4 mm |
| Matte | dull, layer lines are less noticeable | somewhat more brittle, print rather hotter | hardly, slightly with continuous use | from 0.4 mm |
| Glitter, sparkle | fine glitter particles | particles can clog narrow nozzles | slightly | 0.4 mm or larger, not 0.2 mm |
| Marble, granite | speckles like stone | like glitter, particles in the filament | slightly | 0.4 mm or larger, not 0.2 mm |
| Wood | wood-like colour and feel | prone to clogging, do not leave sitting hot for too long | slightly | preferably 0.6 mm |
| Glow-in-the-dark | glows after charging | highly abrasive | yes, markedly | hardened, from 0.4 mm |
| Fluorescent colours | bold neon colours | prints like normal PLA | no | from 0.4 mm |
The figures are guide values from manufacturer data sheets. What is on the spool takes priority. You will find basic settings for PLA in the article Printing PLA.
Silk PLA
Silk PLA contains additives that provide the silky, often metallic gloss. At the same time they make the material somewhat more elastic and weaken the bond between the layers.
When printing:
- Print more slowly. Many manufacturers recommend 40 to 60 mm/s for the outer walls. Printed too fast, the surface looks dull instead of glossy.
- Somewhat hotter. Typical is 215 to 235 °C, so often 5 to 15 degrees more than with normal PLA. If you print faster, you tend to need the upper end.
- Not for loaded parts. Silk parts break more easily along the layers. For decoration, vases and figures that does not matter, but for brackets it does.
Silk also tends to string slightly more. If that does not help, see the article on Stringing.
Matte PLA
Matte types contain fine mineral fillers that scatter the light. The result: hardly any gloss, and layer lines are far less noticeable. That is why matte PLA is popular for figures, models and anything that should “not look like a 3D print”.
When printing:
- The fillers make parts somewhat more brittle. Cut supports off with side cutters rather than snapping them off.
- The melt is more viscous. 5 to 10 degrees more than with normal PLA often improves layer adhesion.
- Light scratches and abrasion marks show up more on dark matte PLA.
- For occasional use a normal nozzle is enough. If you print a great deal of matte PLA, keep an eye on the nozzle.
Glitter, sparkle and marble
These types contain solid particles: glitter flakes with sparkle, speckles of inorganic particles with marble and granite.
When printing:
- Manufacturers advise against 0.2 mm nozzles because the particles can clog them. 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 mm are unproblematic.
- A larger layer height often makes the effect work better.
- The particles are mildly abrasive. For occasional prints, brass is enough. If you print many kilograms, a hardened nozzle is worthwhile.
- Glitter shows to best effect on flat, upward-facing surfaces.
Wood PLA
Wood PLA is PLA with a proportion of fine wood fibres or wood flour, up to about 30 % depending on the product. Parts look wood-like, can be sanded and even stained.
When printing:
- Clogging is the main problem. The fibres can lodge in narrow nozzles, especially if the material sits hot in the nozzle for a long time, for example during pauses or very slow movements.
- Larger nozzle: Many manufacturers state 0.4 mm as possible. With 0.6 mm, wood PLA runs much more smoothly.
- Temperature: typically 190 to 240 °C. Higher temperatures make the tone darker but increase the risk that the fibres burn and clog the nozzle.
- After printing, do not leave it idling hot for long.
If it still jams, the article Clogged nozzle helps.
Glow-in-the-dark
Afterglow filaments contain luminescent pigments, usually strontium aluminate. These crystals are very hard. In the nozzle they act like sandpaper.
When printing:
- Use a hardened nozzle. A brass nozzle can widen noticeably after as little as 0.5 to 2 kg of glow filament. After that it prints inaccurately, even with normal PLA.
- Print rather slowly, which reduces wear.
- For an even glow, print several walls; 3 to 4 is a good value. Thin walls glow weakly.
Fluorescent colours
Neon or fluorescent filaments do not glow in the dark but look particularly vivid in daylight and under UV light. They contain dyes instead of hard particles and print like normal PLA. A hardened nozzle is not needed. Just be aware that they can fade over time in sunlight.
Store dry
Specialty PLA is no more sensitive than normal PLA, but absorbs moisture just the same. Manufacturers often give 55 °C for 8 hours for drying. With silk in particular, the gloss disappears when the filament is damp.
Next: Multi-colour printing or the filament overview.