3DQF Library
PLA vs PLA-Plus
So the difference between PLA & PLA-PLus ?
3DQF Filament is made using 4043D Natureworks resin and our PLA-Plus material is made from Natureworks 3D850 based resin. We add our special colouring and that's it !
Natureworks have such amazing material that we would be unable to
refine it further. Our aim is to keep the filament recipe stable by not
modifying the polymer..... leaving it as Natureworks intended!
What's PLA ?
Both of these materials are versions of PLA (polylactic acid), a very popular
and environmentally friendly polymer for the production of 3D printing
filament. Derived from corn starch means it's a none oil based polymer.
There are some key differences between the two grades that we
use and this really sets them apart in terms of their performance.
3DQF PLA
Our Normal PLA is produced using 4043D from Natureworks, offers
excellent printability and is suitable for a wide range of printed applications.
It has a good balance between strength and flexibility, making it ideal for general-purpose 3D printing projects. Normal PLA provides reliable results with smooth surface finishes, and it's available in a variety of vibrant colours. This is a high-grade PLA and generally what imported PLA-PLUS is in the best-case scenario. Optically it has a slight yellow colour in its naked/raw state.
3DQF PLA-PLUS
On the other hand, our PLA-Plus material is made from Natureworks 3D850-based resin. PLA-Plus is engineered to provide enhanced mechanical properties compared to regular PLA.
It exhibits increased strength, stiffness, and heat resistance, making it
really well-suited for jobs that demand higher durability or the ability to
withstand elevated temperatures once the material has been crystalised or
post-heat treated. PLA-Plus maintains the same ease of printing as our
normal 3DQF PLA 9 (minor increase in hot end temp) , allowing your
printer to produce intricate designs and complex support with easy removal.
History of 4043D
Don't be fooled into thinking 4043D is a PLA-Plus no matter how good 4043D is. There's no doubting its quality as a printing polymer but roll back a few years ago it was actually a film-grade material (Plastic bags)! These days it's now listed as a filament-making polymer. 3D850 has always been and was designed around 3D printing. With a significant amount of work revolving around material flow, clarity and increased impact resistance, it really is a very well-developed polymer that gives exceptional results and improved performance over 4043D.
4043D is an exceptional printing material and we are proud to call it our base polymer but it's important as a consumer to understand the materials that are on offer and what they actually offer you as an end user. We are known for transparency and if we say you're getting a different product we will back that up with facts and underpin the product back to a material spec.
In summary
The main difference lies in the mechanical properties and performance characteristics of the two materials. Normal PLA (4043D Natureworks resin) is a really high-quality base resin used by the world's leading filament brands. offering a brilliant balance of strength and flexibility. PLA-Plus (Natureworks 3D850-based resin) is the go-to choice when you require enhanced durability, stiffness, heat resistance and the brightest of colours is required.
In terms of imports please note if they don’t tell you the grade of material that’s being used in both their normal PLA and PLA-PLUS then I would be very sceptical as to them being that much between them.
We hope this explanation is helpful and show the difference between our Normal PLA and PLA-Plus. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to let us know.
