There’s nothing super special about this print in particular compared to what people usually post here, just a simple Santa figurine requested by a makerspace patron. However, it’s made from 100% pure PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate), a natural polyester byproduct of common soil bacteria. Unlike PLA, it is fully home compostable. It can break down in any biome, in a very reasonable timeframe. Also unlike PLA, you can make it by feeding the bacteria stuff like old fast food fryer oil, and other waste products. The print settings are pretty similar to PLA, but it has some significant differences in material properties, like being less brittle.

There aren’t a whole lot of people making 100% PHA filaments, but if you can find it, definitely give it a shot! It’s our staple filament at the makerspace I work in. Hopefully this doesn’t sound too much like an ad or something, I just really like this stuff and want it to catch on.

Oh also! The flexible version looks and feels really neat if you run it through a vibratory tumbler: A rubbery black object, some kind of gasket, that looks like it's been coarsely sanded

  • callcc@lemmy.worldEnglish
    15·
    21 days ago

    Man, I love PHA, at least the idea of it. I have an unopened roll of it lying around because I’m afraid to waste it. I’ll give it a go on my next print. It’s unfortunate that it’s still hard to find and a bit expensive. All hail PHA!

    • Remy Rose@piefed.socialOPEnglish
      4·
      21 days ago

      Depends on how thick it is and what biome it degrades in, but in my compost it seems pretty comparable to wood?

  • Marvelicious@fedia.io
    4·
    20 days ago

    Looks interesting. My primary focus is on engineering materials, but I’d love a truly biodegradable draft filament and I’m willing to put in a bit of time working out how to make it work with my equipment. Looking at Colorfabb’s site, it appears they only sell it in 750g spools which is incredibly frustrating considering my intended use. For a draft filament, the bigger the roll, the better!

    • IMALlama@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      20 days ago

      Even for non-draft, 3kg+ or bust! I tend to make bigger prints and running down spools is a pain.

  • bluewing@lemm.eeEnglish
    3·
    20 days ago

    Sounds like it’s fine for decorative pieces but less so for items that require strength if you need to place severe limits on top and bottom and perimeters plus infill.

    • Remy Rose@piefed.socialOPEnglish
      2·
      20 days ago

      That’s just if you’re having too much trouble with warping, which we generally don’t, and it doesn’t apply to perimeters or top layers, just bottom layers and infill. We’ve printed plenty of parts near solid with no issue at all. In addition, PHA is inherently more durable than PLA anyway.

    • Remy Rose@piefed.socialOPEnglish
      2·
      20 days ago

      We’ve tried every brand I can find, like Colorfabb AllPHA, Beyond Plastic BioPHA, and Bosk Regen. We usually order directly from them since it’s hard to find in a distributor, but we’re in the Northeast U.S.A., so it’d be really nice if anyone was making it around here.

      • callcc@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        8 days ago

        Thanks for that list. I have AllPHA. Will try it out soon. Is it very hydrophilic?

        • Remy Rose@piefed.socialOPEnglish
          2·
          9 days ago

          It doesn’t seem to be, or if it is, it’s in a very different way. A lot of other materials seem to get more brittle in humidity, but I haven’t noticed that with PHA.