PLA vs ABS

Find out the differences between PLA and ABS

	PLA	ABS
Definition	PLA, which stands for Polylactic Acid, is a type of thermoplastic made from plant starch	ABS, which stands for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, is a petroleum-based thermoplastic
Warping	Less prone to warping as it cools quicker and is printed at a lower temperature	More prone to warping as takes longer to cool and is printed at a higher temperature
Heated Bed?	It is not completely necessary to print with a heated bed however if you do have one it will help ensure the print stays firmly stuck down when printing and gives a glossy finish at the bottom	You will find it very hard to print without a heated bed as the print will immediately start peeling up at the edges, heated perforated plates are particularly good for printing with ABS
Odour / Fumes	Does not smell at all and no room ventilation is necessary	Can smell a little and can be slightly toxic so it is important to have a small amount of ventilation
Strength	Similar strength however PLA can be brittle when it does reach the limit	Similar strength however ABS is less brittle and will bend slightly before breaking completely making it better at withstanding vibrations
Moisture	Is biodegradable so does degrade when in contact with moisture	Does not react with moisture
Food Contact	Is suitable for food contact	Is not suitable for food contact
Heat Resistance	Less heat resistant	More heat resistant
Typical Print Temperature	210°C	240°C

PLA

ABS

Definition

PLA, which stands for Polylactic Acid, is a type of thermoplastic made from plant starch

ABS, which stands for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, is a petroleum-based thermoplastic

Warping

Less prone to warping as it cools quicker and is printed at a lower temperature

More prone to warping as takes longer to cool and is printed at a higher temperature

Heated Bed?

It is not completely necessary to print with a heated bed however if you do have one it will help ensure the print stays firmly stuck down when printing and gives a glossy finish at the bottom

You will find it very hard to print without a heated bed as the print will immediately start peeling up at the edges, heated perforated plates are particularly good for printing with ABS