Trying PHA

I was watching an Info cable channel. The subject was the world wide plastic pollution problem in all its many forms. Of course I was thinking of my plastic 3D printing obsession.

I commonly use more than several types of plastic. PLA, PETG, TPU, ASA are my most common. I also have used PVA, Nylon, ABS, and PC-pro. I once experimented with a wax filament.

Not going to explain what they all are (here), But I will say that PLA (polylactic acid) is the one most touted as bio-friendly meaning it doesn’t pollute the environment when discarded. Turns out that is at least a half-truth or half-lie. It biodegrades only under an elevated temperature industrial process. Not naturally in the outdoor environment.

There is one plastic, PHA (Polyhydroxyalkanoate) that fulfills the promise. It’s the only printable plastic that has a true certification that it is environmentally safe.

I am not promoting it in this report. Only confirming that it does exist as a printable filament for use with 3D FDM printers.

By-the-way, if this all seems like alphabet soup, you are correct. It pretty much is. I am not trying to educate or decode the jargon.

Currently the main issue with PHA is its high cost to manufacture and therefore non-competitive pricing in the industrial and hobby 3D print markets. All makers of this product are very small start-up operations with little 3D print market penetration.

The main market for PHA is with the disposable (single use) packaging operations.

But, the pricy 3D print material is available and I think worth my investment in trying to use it.

I found one source on Amazon and ordered two spools. Will report here when I discover how to make use of the material with my printers.