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Food grade filament for 3d printing
The Essential Guide to Food Safe 3D Printing
3D printing offers unparalleled design freedom to produce custom parts and complex or organic shapes that would be costly or impossible to manufacture with traditional manufacturing methods.
These benefits can be compelling for a range of food-related applications. However, if 3D printed parts are intended for food contact items, you‘ll have to consider safety practices and regulations to avoid contact with toxic substances and prevent the buildup of harmful bacteria.
Food safe 3D printing is possible and the variety of materials approved as food safe is increasing, but there is a high degree of ambiguity around the workflows and finding the appropriate applicable regulations can be a challenge.
Read on for an introduction to food safety, food safety considerations for 3D printing, and a variety of methods to produce food safe products with common 3D printing processes, including stereolithography (SLA), fused deposition modeling (FDM), and selective laser sintering (SLS).
Please note
No Formlabs resins are food safe unless users take additional steps.
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To begin, it’s important to clarify a few key terms:
- Food grade means that the material is either safe for human consumption or permitted to come in contact with food.
- Food safe means that a food grade material meets the requirements determined by the intended use and will not create a food-safety hazard.
- Food contact surfaces include any surface that may come into direct contact with food. These surfaces must be made of nontoxic materials and designed to withstand the environment of their intended use, including exposure to cleaning compounds, sanitizing agents, and cleaning procedures.
Food grading and food safety concern a specific way to ingest parts, called migration. Particles as small as a few nanometers and up to several hundred nanometers may get transferred each time various materials encounter with each other, for example from components of the 3D printer to the 3D printed object, and from the object to the food.
Because migration levels are very low on occasional contact, food grading typically concerns items that are in prolonged contact with food such as containers, straws, utensils, plates, and food molds. Different testing institutions will adhere to different government-imposed risk tolerances and approved substances, which for the US is described by the FDA CFR 21 and for the EU in guidelines 10/2011.
Look for these labels indicating FDA and EU approval. Beware that a material being ‘compliant with’ doesn’t mean that it is explicitly approved by the institutions, so always check the technical datasheets for a certificate.
To be considered food safe according to the FDA Food Code, a material has to meet the following requirements:
- No migration of deleterious substances
- Does not impart colors, odors, or tastes
- Safe under normal use conditions
- Durable, corrosion-resistant, and nonabsorbent
- Sufficient in weight to withstand repeated washing
- Finished to have a smooth, easily cleanable surface without breaks and sharp internal angles
- Resistant to pitting, chipping, crazing, scratching, scoring, distortion, and decomposition
- Accessible to inspection
Any FDA or EU approved material includes not only the raw polymer but also the additives or masterbatch.
These might contain components such as plasticizers, impact and heat distortion modifiers, UV-stabilizers, flame retardants, anti-fouling, anti-static, anti-slip, foaming and clarifying agents, anti-oxidants, aromatic nucleators, carbon alloys, phosphorescents, fillers, thickeners, chain extenders, metal deactivators, dyes, and a carrier resin.
A 3D printed part can turn into a petri dish squirming with bacteria within weeks. Even though some materials will survive the dishwasher, so will dangerous bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella that live in the little nooks and crannies. Some toxic molds find favorable growth conditions on several types of plastic and are hard to remove. Neither cleaning with bleach nor microwaving your polymers is an option for eliminating germs.
While bacteria buildup might not be an issue for disposable items, if you’re planning to create a part for long-term use, using a food safe coating is highly recommended.
The best option to reduce the risk of particle migration and bacteria buildup is by dip coating the 3D printed parts with a food grade epoxy or polyurethane resin, such as Masterbond’s EP42HT-2FG or ArtResin or an FDA approved PTFE (known as Teflon®) to seal their surface.
However, note that coating also doesn’t guarantee food safety for prolonged use as not all of these coatings are dishwasher safe, and they may degrade over time, exposing the original, potentially non-safe surface.
Most 3D printing materials have a low heat deflection temperature (HDT), which means that the 3D printed parts might become brittle and crack, or deform and warp at elevated temperatures. If you’re planning to clean a 3D printed part in a dishwasher, make sure to double check that the material is dishwasher safe and if there are any specific recommendations for washing temperature.
As particles might migrate from components of a 3D printer to 3D printed parts, it is crucial that any components that might come in contact with the 3D printing material or the part are food grade and do not contain or leach harmful chemicals.
This includes taking precautions when using multiple materials, as some materials previously used in the 3D printer might have contained toxic particles and made contact with some components.
Many 3D printing materials are not food safe and might contain toxic chemicals. Only use materials to 3D print parts intended for food contact that are certified for food safety.
As may be expected, the risk of migration is higher if the food is exposed to the 3D printed part for an extended time period. In general, try to limit food contact time and take further precautions for parts that will be in contact with food for longer periods of time.
Think about the reason why you’d like to use 3D printing for a food contact item. If it’s to create custom shapes and forms, in most cases, there are indirect ways to use 3D printing to create these custom parts, for example with molding. See an example in the next section.
SLA 3D printing uses a laser to cure liquid resin into hardened plastic in a process called photopolymerization, resulting in parts that have the highest resolution and accuracy, the clearest details, and the smoothest surface finish of all plastic 3D printing technologies.
Is resin food safe? The answer is no. Substances may migrate from SLA parts which makes none of the resins and printed parts food safe by default. While some resins for dental and medical applications are certified biocompatible, that doesn’t mean that they’re food safe. These materials are certified for specific applications and should not be used for food contact products.
SLA parts have a smooth surface finish that makes it easier to use coatings to seal their surface and prevent the buildup of bacteria. The factors which affect the ultimate smoothness of a part include resin type, layer thickness, build orientation, mesh triangulation resolution of the 3D model, and the curing profile of the SLA resin. Printed parts require washing and post-curing according to the manufacturer's instructions before the coating is applied. However, note that coatings don’t guarantee food safety, as the coating may interact with the resin or degrade over time, exposing the original, potentially non-safe surface.
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Creating custom molds is a common way to leverage the benefits of SLA 3D printing to produce highly detailed custom parts without having the 3D printing parts come into direct contact with food. While SLA 3D prints aren’t suitable for directly molding foods, SLA 3D printers are perfect tools to create mold negatives, which can be vacuum formed using food safe plastic.
The tools and techniques for creating 3D printed food molds are easy to master, and the results are often stunning.
3D printed molds for thermoforming and silicone enabled the creation of unique shapes and designs.
Learn more about creating molds for vacuum forming in our in-depth tutorial.
Electroplating is the process of coating parts with metal using an electric current. The process is most commonly used for decorative purposes or to prevent corrosion by creating a durable surface.
SLA parts are ideal for electroplating due to their smooth surface finish. However, as plastics are nonconductive surfaces, SLA 3D prints have to be rendered conductive by coating with graphite, conductive lacquer, electroless plate, or a vaporized coating.
Food safe metal coatings are available, but as the process involves various chemicals, making sure that the workflow is approved for food contact is the developer’s own liability.
SLA 3D printing offers the unique possibility to produce ceramic parts. After 3D printing, parts can be fired in a kiln to burn out the resin and form a true ceramic part that is strong and heat-resistant. With subsequent food safe glazing, the parts will become more hygienic and resistant to most chemicals.
A variety of food safe glazes are available on the market, but make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions in accordance with food safety guidelines.
3D printing in ceramics is ideal for fabricating complex geometries that wouldn’t be possible by hand.
Learn More About Ceramics
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FDM is a 3D printing process that builds parts by melting and extruding thermoplastic filament, which a print nozzle deposits layer by layer in the build area.
The extruded material is circular in cross-section, which leaves very narrow crevices in between layers with a depth directly proportional to layer height. It is recommended in any case to print at the lowest feasible layer height for food safe parts.
Consequently, the main challenge with FDM parts is avoiding the buildup of bacteria. To be truly food safe in the long term, an FDM 3D print needs to have a smooth surface. Chemical smoothing with solvents like acetone, d-Limonene, or ethyl acetate removes many of the irregularities of the print resulting in a smooth, glossy appearance.
However, applying a subsequent food safe coating is still highly recommended.
Layers showing on FDM (left) and SLA (right) 3D prints.
Food grade filaments do not contain any composite particles so will not wear down the nozzle into the print. Nevertheless, avoid brass nozzles that contain lead and use a dedicated stainless steel nozzle instead for all food contact items.
Always check the compatibility of your 3D printer’s components with the filament. For example, PEI is a material that is FDA compliant and offers great mechanical benefits but needs to be processed at over 300 °C, which requires a specific printer solution.
The most common questions around FDM food safety concern two popular materials. Is PLA food safe? Is ABS food safe? The answer is, it depends.
Food safe 3D printing filaments include PLA, PP, co-polyester, PET, PET-G, HIPS, and nylon-6, as well as some brands of ABS, ASA, and PEI. Having to run parts through the dishwasher rules out PET, nylon, and PLA because these plastics soften and distort around 60–70 °C.
For applications involving hot liquids, co-polyester, High Temperature PLA or PEI are most suited.
While not reflected in the regulations, some studies suspect that polystyrene may leach styrenes, co-polyesters might cause health concerns and that food grade FDM filaments might lose their safe status due to oxidation and thermal degradation from the printing process.
| Filament | Brand | FDA | EU | Smoothable | Dishwasher safe | Hot liquids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABS | Adwire PRO | Approved | NA | Yes, acetone | Yes | Yes |
| Innofil3D | Approved except red, orange, and pink | Approved except red, orange, and pink | Yes, acetone | Yes | Yes | |
| ASA | Innofil3D | NA | Compliant | Yes | No | |
| Bendlay | Orbi-Tech | NA | Compliant | Yes, brake cleaner | No | No |
| Biocompound | Extrudr GreenTEC | NA | Compliant | |||
| Co-Polyester | Colorfabb XT | Approved | Compliant | No | Yes | Yes |
| HIPS | Easyfil | Compliant | Compliant | Yes, d-limonene | Yes | No |
| Fillamentum | NA | Compliant | Yes, d-limonene | Yes | No | |
| InnoFil3D | Approved | Approved | Yes, d-limonene | Yes | No | |
| Nylon | Taulman Nylon 680 | Compliant | NA | No | No | |
| PEI | ULTEM® 1000 | Compliant | NA | Yes | Yes | |
| PET | InnoPet EPR | Approved except red and orange | Approved except red and orange | Yes, ethyl acetate | No | No |
| Refil | Approved | NA | Yes, ethyl acetate | No | No | |
| Taulman T-Glase | Approved | NA | Yes, ethyl acetate | No | No | |
| Verbatim | Compliant | NA | Yes, ethyl acetate | No | No | |
| PET-G | Extrudr MF | NA | Approved | Yes, ethyl acetate | No | No |
| HDGlass | Approved | Approved | Yes, ethyl acetate | No | No | |
| PLA | Filaments. ca TrueFS | Approved | NA | No | No | No |
| Fillamentum | NA | Compliant | No | No | No | |
| Innofil3D | Approved except red, orange, pink, apricot skin, grey, and magenta | Approved except red, orange, pink, apricot skin, grey, and magenta | No | No | No | |
| Copper3D PLActive Antibacterial | Approved | Compliant | No | No | No | |
| Makergeeks | Approved | NA | No | No | No | |
| Purement Antibacterial | Approved | Approved | No | No | No | |
| PLA-HT | Makergeeks Raptor | Approved | NA | No | Yes | Yes |
| Makergeeks Raptor | Approved | NA | No | Yes | Yes | |
| PP | Centaur | Compliant | Compliant | No | Yes | Yes |
| InnoFil3D | Approved | Approved | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Nunus | Compliant | Compliant | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Verbatim | Compliant | NA | No | Yes | Yes | |
| SBS | Filamentarno | NA | Approved only in Russia | Yes, d-limonene | Yes | Yes |
Selective Laser Sintering is a 3D printing process that use a high-powered laser to fuse small particles of polymer powder.
The most common material for laser sintering is nylon, a popular engineering thermoplastic with excellent mechanical properties.
While some SLS powders are graded food safe, the particles on the surface of printed parts might not fuse completely, resulting in parts that are inherently porous and do not deal well with moisture and mold growth. Even though the nylon 12 powder can be steam cleaned in an autoclave, it is best to coat SLS parts with food safe coatings to seal their surface.
A common post-processing step for SLS parts is dying. But note that after an SLS part has been dyed, the dye may leach into the printed part which renders the item not food safe.
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Food safety with 3D printing is not a simple matter that will boil down to a clear yes or no answer.
Producing 3D printed parts for food contact items requires careful consideration of the risks depending on their intended use.
For further information on food safety and 3D printing, we recommend reading the following:
- FDA Regulations CFR 21
- EU Guidelines 10/2011
- Risk Assessment of 3D Printers and 3D Printed Products
- The Tricky Business of Choosing Plastic for Food Contact Applications
Food Safe 3D Printer Filaments - Complete Guide
There are plenty of awesome 3D printing projects out there, and some even help you around the house. 3D printing lets us make almost anything from toys and Lego figures to holiday decorations.
But some of the coolest and most useful things you can make are 3D printed food preparers.
While you can’t quite 3D print your own microwave just yet, it’s easy to use your 3D printer to make kitchen helpers like coffee filters and cookie cutters.
However, not all materials are made equal, and not all 3D printer filaments are safe to use in the kitchen.
From making your own cutlery to designing your own kitchen tools, 3D printed food utensils and cookware are a great way to spice up your home without breaking the bank.
However, using dangerous plastics or unsuitable materials for 3D printing cooking utensils is hazardous to your health. Because of this, it’s very important to know what the food-safe 3D printing materials are before you start making your own personalized forks and spoons.
Identifying and maintaining the food safety of anything that gets used in your kitchen is a number one priority in staying as healthy as possible. Not all culinary hazards are immediately obvious and visible, so be sure to keep these things in mind before 3D printing some crockery.
Which Filaments Are Food-Grade?
FDM printers seem like they can do just about everything, and here at 3DSourced, we’ve spoken about using food-safe 3D printer filaments to make some of the coolest 3D printer projects.
But before you go from printer to plate, you should familiarize yourself with which filaments you should and shouldn’t use and why.
PLA – Food Safe
PLA is generally considered to be a food-safe 3D printer filament, which is excellent news given that it’s the standard filament choice for many FDM 3D printers.
Despite not being as heat resistant as many other filaments, it’s non-toxic and safe to use for 3D printing your own kitchen utensils. However, it’s still recommended that you limit its exposure to food.
Specialized food-grade PLA is also manufactured, such as this one.
Read more: the best food 3D printers
ABS – Not Food Safe
ABS has better heat resistance than PLA, making it less likely to degrade with constant use and washing. This seems ideal on the surface, as its durability means it’s less likely to form notches and grooves to house bacteria, but don’t be fooled.
ABS is quite toxic when ingested, especially when heated up.
Even using ABS for minimum contact tools can be hazardous to your health. All-in-all, ABS is not considered to be a food safe 3D printer filament, and should be kept out of the kitchen by all means.
PETG – Food Safe
PETG filament is the dream filament for those of you looking to 3D print your own cookware. It’s highly durable and heat resistant while also being one of the most food-safe 3D printer filaments on the market.
It’s even been given the green light by the FDA as a safe material for clothing and household utensils due to its non-toxicity, lasting shelf-life, and high recyclability.
Most discussions regarding the food safety of PETG filaments take mainly food containment and storage into account. This means that it’s the safest available 3D printer filament for long-term exposure to food at room temperature or below. This makes it ideal for Tupperware replacements and transportation for things like potlucks and picnics.
Keep in mind, however, that these approvals only come from non-treated PETG.
Some manufacturers include additional chemicals in the creation of their filaments for things like color and advanced durability. These chemicals may render the filament non-food safe, and should be avoided.
Always search for ‘Raw’ or ‘Clear’ PETG filament if you plan on using it with food, like the one here. This will tell you that it has not been treated with any chemicals and is safe to use.
Nylon Filaments – Food Safe
Nylon is considered a food-safe filament, but only at the highest grade of quality. While it’s best to avoid using nylon filament with food if you’re at all unsure, using filaments like nylon-9 are safe to use with food.
If you plan to use nylon filaments like this for kitchen utensils, be sure to follow the same advice we recommend when using PLAs.
Read more: the best Nylon 3D printers
Ceramic – Food Safe
If you’re lucky enough to have a 3D printer that can print ceramics, then you’ll be very glad to know that ceramic filaments like this are considered to have the same properties as traditionally made ceramic crockery.
This means that they are food safe and can be used as any regular cup, saucer, plate, bowl, or even cutlery.
Read more: ceramic 3D printing buyer’s guide
Dangers of Non-Food Safe Filament
There are plenty of reasons to double check that your 3D printer filament is food safe before using it for your culinary endeavors. Double-checking your filaments to make sure they’re food safe is of upmost importance when protecting yourself and your family from some very dangerous health risks.
Bacteria
Not all materials can be thoroughly cleaned with just hot water and a good scrub, and sometimes materials that appear clean and shiny are actually crawling with dangerous bacteria. Unfortunately for us humans, our eyesight is nowhere near good enough to detect such bacteria.
Allowing these germs to build up and thrive on any surface is hazardous enough, but the risk is further maximized with things that are going near your food. Think about it, raw chicken looks clean but you wouldn’t put it anywhere near your mouth!
All 3D printing filament will have grooves and notches that may be invisible to the naked eye where bacteria can build up.
While this isn’t too much of an issue provided you clean your utensils regularly, crockery and cutlery left unchecked will soon end up crawling with germs.
Even more food safe 3D printer filaments like PLA will degrade with prolonged exposure to heat, creating more grooves in which bacteria can thrive. So even diligent washing may render your utensils unsanitary over time.
Toxic Materials
It’s very important to remember that ABS filament is never food safe. ABS is a toxic filament that will leech into your food and make it unsafe to eat even if it tastes fine. Colored ABS is often made using additional chemicals like unsafe dyes which cause even more harm if eaten or used with food.
While PLAs tend to be non-toxic and generally food safe 3D printer filaments, be sure to check with the manufacturer or provider before you bring it into the kitchen!
Additional fact: Plastic utensils from takeaways and picnics are made of polystyrene, which are only safe to use at room temperature, but they become toxic with prolonged exposure to heat.
As if we needed another reason to avoid those environment-destroying tools.
Use a Stainless Steel Extruder – Avoid Lead
It’s not just filaments that can be non-food safe, sometimes it’s your 3D printer itself. Check your extruder’s specs before printing anything that’s to go near food.
Many extruders are made from brass, which contain lead. If used too much or worn away, particles of this lead will seep into your prints, rendering them unfit for ingestion and very dangerous to your health.
If your extruder is made of stainless steel, then you’re all good to go!
Maximize Safety When Using Food-Safe 3D Printer Filaments
Much like traditional metal utensils, how safe they are to use will always in some way depend on how you take care of them. As we’ve discussed, some filaments are generally safe for use with food, but there are some extra steps you should be taking to make sure your projects stay safe and you stay healthy!
Wash Efficiently
While the go-to rule for washing up is to get the water as hot as possible, this isn’t the case with 3D prints designed for food.
A good scrub with warm water and anti-bacterial soap will clean out your 3D printed kitchen utensils well without exposing them to the kind of heat that will warp or damage them.
This will protect the aesthetic of your creations as well as make them less likely to become bacteria havens in the future.
It may be tempting to opt for a dishwasher for these instances, but it’s best to avoid using them. Dishwashers run on higher temperatures and strong blasts of water that will damage your prints and make them less usable and more dangerous over time.
Ensure Everything is Food Safe
As we’ve mentioned before, it’s not just food safe 3D printing filament you need to consider. You need to make sure your 3D printer nozzle as well as any long-term chemical solutions you use in post-processing are also safe for ingestion even in small quantities.
Making sure every step in the printing process is as sanitary as possible is very important to ensure that what you’re putting in or near your mouth isn’t going to come back to bite you instead.
Think about it, you wouldn’t want to mix cake batter with a freshly varnished wooden spoon, would you?
Use Sparingly
It will be tempting to make something as special as a homemade utensil a go-to in your kitchen, but the more anything comes in contact with food, the more dangerous it could be.
While things like cookie cutters and cutting boards have limited contact with food already, 3D printed cups and bowls should only be used sparingly and washed immediately after use to ensure they stay food safe for a long time.
Because of this, it’s generally recommended that you don’t use any 3D printer filament to make crockery like cups, bowls, and plates. While one-time use may be safe, they will deteriorate and become toxic quickly regardless of whether or not your filament is food safe.
While it is possible to keep such things safe for a long time, the care required to maximize safety is often not really worth it. Instead, why not use your 3D printer to make safer items like this personalized cup holder? That way you’ll enjoy eating and drinking with things you’ve made yourself while avoiding the attached risks of unhygienic consumption.
Practice Food Safety
While it should go without saying, it’s still worth noting that you should be following all food hygiene standards alongside taking extra care with your 3D printed utensils.
Even after you’ve double-checked your equipment and ensured that you’re using a food safe 3D printer filament, keeping all workspaces clean and sanitary should take priority above all else. Prepare all your food as directed (wash vegetables, thoroughly cook white meats, etc.) and always put your health first.
Cooking tools you made yourself are fun to use, but getting to show off isn’t worth putting yourself, your family, and your friends at risk.
Other articles you may be interested in:
- The strongest 3D printer filaments
- The best 3D printer filament storage
- PLA vs PLA+ filament comparison
Consumables for FDM printing Plastic filaments
No matter how high-tech 3D printing is, 3D modeling is impossible without such an inexpensive component as consumables.
Each 3D prototyping technology has its own pool of consumables - they are developed taking into account compatibility with printers, cost efficiency and quality of output 3D objects. Thus, industrial installations use powder materials, medical 3D printers are biocompatible and neutral, culinary ones work with a wide range of paste-like and viscous food compositions, and the most common in the segment of personal and semi-professional 3D equipment - with plastic thread and photopolymer resins. And since this segment is the most massive, it is on it that we will focus in the first place.
Of course, you have already studied our range of consumables - in the 3DMall online store it is rightfully considered one of the most worthy and affordable in the whole country. Here you can buy consumables for FDM and other types of printers inexpensively with delivery in Moscow and Russia, including the possibility of picking up at one of the many points of issue. And our Knowledge Base and prompt free consultations with our experts on all issues related to 3D printing will help you make the right choice.
FDM consumables
Most modern personal printers are FDM units, which, like their consumables, are more than affordable. Today, such printers are available not only in offices, design and engineering offices, but also in the homes of many fans of maker and 3D technologies.
There are many varieties of plastics for 3D printing - a far from exhaustive list of materials includes PLA, ABS, PVA, Nylon, PC, HDPE, PP, PCL, PPSU, Acrylic, PET, HIPS, imitation wood, sandstone or metals, the characteristics of which we consider in more detail.
PLA - polyaktide
The undisputed leader of the modern market of consumables for FDM printers - an environmentally friendly, biocompatible, thermoplastic composition. Its production is based on corn and sugar cane, thanks to which products from this type of plastic are successfully used in everyday life. It is used for the manufacture of toys, dishes, souvenirs, housing elements for household appliances, designer models, food packaging, medicines, surgical thread, and due to its affordability, it is also used for education and hobbies.
Despite the high quality of the surface of PLA products, it is a stretch to call them practical - the material is quite soft and short-lived. The melting temperature is 170-180 about C, the glass transition process begins when cooled to 50 about C.
PLA has proven to be the best type of material for 3D printers with an open build chamber and a heated worktable.
Benefits include low shrinkage so finished objects do not deform during curing, ease of handling and versatility.
ABS
ABS, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, is the most popular heat-resistant plastic in the field of 3D prototyping, which, however, cannot be considered one of the most popular due to the fact that printing with its use is quite problematic.
Advantages - durability, mechanical strength, resistance to moisture, oils, a wide range of acids and elevated temperatures (it withstands heat up to 100-110 about C, responds well to staining).
At the same time, some varieties are destroyed by prolonged contact with direct sunlight, and the melting point is about 180 about C - considered low for industrial use. When cooling, the object is subject to significant shrinkage - the first layers can twist, deform and crack. To avoid such problems, the use of ABS is recommended for printing on 3D printers with a heated desktop and a closed body. For a more reliable grip on the work surface, you should also use adhesive tape.
ABS products are absolutely safe at normal air temperatures, however, heat releases toxic acrylonitrile fumes, so it should not be used for printing toys, household items, dishes and food storage containers.
PVA - polyvinyl alcohol
A truly unique material for special applications. Its main feature is the ability to dissolve in water, which allows it to be used to build support structures (support for particularly filigree elements of the main object) when printing on printers with 2 extruders.
The finished model after separation of the support does not require mechanical post-processing - its surface is smooth and of high quality.
The mechanical properties of this type of plastic are also interesting - in conditions of low humidity it has amazing strength, and with increasing humidity it becomes elastic, however, with a loss of strength. The melting temperature is 165-175 about C, which allows it to be used in combination with PLA and ABS plastics.
Before using PVA, it is recommended to dry it additionally (for example, in an oven) at a temperature not exceeding 80 C for 6-8 hours, even if it was stored in an absolutely sealed dry container.
Nylon
The main advantage of this material is its resistance to wear due to friction, which makes it very popular in various industries, in particular for coating parts as an alternative to lubrication.
Nylon thread is represented by a fairly large assortment, each variety has its own advantages and disadvantages.
The most popular and practical are traditionally considered the nylon-66 created by DuPont in 1935 and its later analogue produced by BASF nylon-6. Their melting points are respectively 265 and 220 about C, which determines the features of their application.
Key features - easily absorbs moisture, fuses with polyimide, which requires special care when choosing a printer, for a more secure fixation to the desktop, use wax-impregnated adhesive tape. Recommended for refilling printers with studded traction mechanisms as part of extruders, as well as for printing solid models, since nylon parts stick together very poorly.
PC - polycarbonate
The main advantages of polycarbonate plastic filament are its high strength and temperature resistance, it can be cooled and heated without the risk of deformation of the finished object, which cannot be said about the printing process itself. The melting temperature of the material is 265 about C, the safety requirements and risks of deformation during model building will help to optimize equipment with a closed print chamber and a heated platform.
You should immediately pay attention to the risks - printing these materials is harmful to health, since bisphenol A, a potentially carcinogenic and toxic substance, is used in the process of its production.
Due to its high hygroscopicity, RS should be stored in dry and fully sealed containers.
HDPE - High Density Polyethylene
This is one of the world's most sought after plastics for 3D printing. The material melts very easily and hardens in record time - the temperature difference between these processes is only 20-25 degrees, the average melting point is 130-145 about C. (hardening too fast), high shrinkage and deformation activity. The optimal solution for high quality HDPE printing results is high speed prototyping and careful temperature control of the build chamber and work platform to slow down the process of layer curing. However, HDPE is in the category of the cheapest consumables. It is used for the production of plastic bottles and containers, disposable tableware.
An interesting fact is that this type of plastic thread can also be made from plastic waste, there are even 2 professional installations that can cope with this task (universal processing machines FilaBot and RecycleBot.
PP - polypropylene
A versatile and inexpensive material used for production a wide range of plastic products - from dishes and packaging to pipes and fittings.The advantages of PP include low specific gravity, chemical resistance, non-toxicity, moisture resistance, wear resistance and low cost.Unstable with constant contact with direct sunlight and temperatures below -5 o C.
Print shrinkage is as high as 2.4%, 3 times greater than with ABS. Molten material adheres well even to a cold surface, but for high quality printing it is recommended to use equipment with a heated bed.
More popular than the original polypropylene is its imitation, developed by the world famous company Stratasys - Endur.
PCL - polyaprolactone
This is a low temperature biodegradable polyester that melts already at 60 about C, which requires a careful approach when choosing equipment for PLC printing - not all 3D printer models support this mode.
Non-toxic - used in the field of medicine, has excellent plasticity, so it can be used an unlimited number of times.
High viscosity and low temperature resistance make this material unsuitable for functional prototypes and objects, but it is ideal for printing food containers and various layouts.
PPSU - polyphenylsulfone
Thermoplastic material with outstanding strength characteristics, in demand in the aviation industry. Chemically and thermally resistant, does not burn, does not deform in a wide temperature range (-50 o C ... +180 o C). It is used in the production of food containers, dishes, household items. Resistant to corrosion from solvents and household chemicals.
With all the advantages, it is used infrequently, since the melting point is 370 o C.
Acrylic - Plexiglas
Durable, environmentally friendly, moisture resistant material, characterized by excellent adhesion of layers in the prototyping process.
The objects have a homogeneous flat surface and excellent performance properties. It is rarely used for FDM printing, as it is difficult to store and requires the highest construction accuracy, which is very, very difficult to achieve on a classic personal printer.
Stratasys' VeroClear imitator, which is used in Objet Eden printers, is in much greater demand.
PET - polyethylene terephthalate
Food and medical containers are mainly made from this material with a very complex name. Its main advantage is its high chemical resistance, it is not subject to the damaging effects of a wide range of acids and alkalis, it is resistant to wear and a wide temperature range (-40 about C ... +75 about C). Shrinkage on cooling is about 2%, which, combined with a high melting point, reaching 260 about C, makes the printing process somewhat problematic. The transparency of the product is achieved by rapid cooling of the model to the glass transition threshold (+70-80 about C).
In general, to obtain a consistently high-quality result, it is enough to create the same conditions as when printing ABS.
HIPS Soluble Support Material
This is a polystyrene with amazing durability, used to produce real parts and components used in various industries in real use. It is also used for the manufacture of toys, disposable tableware, a number of building materials. In terms of physical properties (strength and durability), it is similar to ABS plastic, but it dissolves easily in limonene. This feature allows it to be used as a support material for printing ABS plastic products, in comparison with PVA it has a much lower cost and absolute insensitivity to water.
Printing is recommended in well-ventilated rooms, as toxic volatile substances may be released during melting.
Wood imitators
This category of consumables includes LAYWOO-D3 and BambooFill, products from which both visually and functionally are in no way inferior to analogues made of natural wood - the products even have a characteristic woody aroma.
They do not deform and do not require the use of a heated platform. LAYWOO-D3, for example, is made from dusted sawdust and a non-toxic binder polymer, making it safe and highly post-processable.
An interesting detail is that the use of nozzles with different heating parameters can achieve different decorative effects. For example, as the extrusion temperature increases, this type of material acquires a richer, darker hue.
The only negative is the high cost, which exceeds the price of PLA or ABS by almost 4 times.
Laybrick – sandstone simulant
We owe the appearance of this composite material with high aesthetic and performance characteristics to the inventor Kai Parti. By the way, LAYWOO-D3 is also his creation. The binder used as the basis for creating this type of material is mixed with a mineral filler - this explains the original texture of the resulting products.
Depending on the selected melting temperature, the surface of the products can be smoother or rougher (the higher it is, the greater the roughness).
One of the easiest materials to work with - it does not need a heated platform, it practically does not shrink or deform. The only drawback is the high cost compared to other filaments.
BronzeFill - metal simulant
Metal is the foundation of additive manufacturing, its use in 3D printing opens up almost unlimited possibilities for mankind. If not for the high cost, of course. Therefore, it is not surprising that a high-quality imitator, BronzeFill, has also been created for the followers of FDM printing. Products printed from it are not inferior to metal ones either visually or operationally.
This is an almost transparent PLA-based plastic, which also contains a bronze filler. Finished 3D objects respond well to post-processing - grinding, polishing - and visually look like all-metal, but you should not forget that thermoplastic is based on it.
How to choose printing plastic?
The choice of filament for printing should be determined by the following several parameters:
- the capabilities of the 3D printer at your disposal;
- requirements for surface quality, detailing accuracy and performance of finished products;
- color;
- scope.
We offer you a small comparison table on the key characteristics of the most popular types of plastic in personal 3D printing, which will help you choose the best option.
layer, °С
threads, mm
Consumable materials 3D printing produces non-standard parts and complex shapes that are impossible or unprofitable to manufacture using traditional methods.
The benefits of 3D printing can be applied to a range of food-related products. For the use of printed products with foodstuffs, safety regulations and local laws must be observed. Failure to comply can lead to poisoning with toxic substances and the growth of harmful bacteria.
Food-safe materials are on the rise, making them easy to find. It is much more difficult to understand the legislation governing the production processes of food-safe 3D printing.
Learn about an introduction to food safety, the features of food-safe 3D printing, and how to produce it using standard technologies, including stereolithography (SLA), deposition modeling (FDM), and selective laser sintering (SLS).
Please note!
Formlabs polymers are not food safe without further processing.
How-to video
Can't find the 3D printing technology that best suits your needs? In this how-to video, we compare Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) technologies in terms of the top factors to consider when purchasing.
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It is important to clarify a few key terms:
- Food compatible material is safe for human consumption or approved for food contact.
- Food Safe material is suitable for food contact, meets the requirements of the intended use and does not pose a food safety hazard.
- To food contact surfaces refers to any surface that may come into direct contact with food. They must be made of non-toxic materials and withstand the conditions of their intended use, including exposure to cleaning compounds, disinfectants and washing.
Food compatibility and food safety are related to migration, a specific way particles move. Every time the materials collide with each other, they exchange tiny particles, such as when a printed model comes into contact with food.
Migration through casual contact is low. Food compatibility is required when creating products that come into contact with food repeatedly, such as containers, straws, plates, and bakeware.
Testing laboratories adhere to different approved lists of substances and acceptable risk levels depending on the state. Regulations in the US are set out in the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA CFR 21) and in the EU in EU regulation 10/2011.
If the product has been approved in the US or EU, it is labeled accordingly. "Conforming" to a material does not mean that it has been directly approved by institutions, so always check data sheets for certification.
Under the US Food Code, material is considered food safe if it meets the following requirements:
- No Migration of Hazardous Substances
- Does not convey color, odor or taste
- Safe when used as directed
- Durable, corrosion resistant, non-hygroscopic
- Has enough weight to withstand repeated washing
- Has a smooth, easy-to-clean surface without kinks or sharp corners
- Resistant to rust, chipping, cracking, scratching and breaking
- Available for analysis
Any material approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the EU includes not only raw polymer, but also additives or concentrate.
They may contain plasticizers, impact and heat distortion modifiers, UV stabilizers, flame retardants, antifouling, antistatic, anti-slip, foaming and clarifying agents, antioxidants, aromatic nucleators, carbon alloys, phosphorescents, fillers, thickeners, chain extenders, metal deactivators, dyes and polymer carrier.
A 3D printed model can turn into a bacteria-infested Petri dish in a matter of weeks. E. coli and salmonella can hide in hard-to-reach places, such as folds and corners. Therefore, even a dishwasher cannot completely secure the printed model. Some toxic molds can grow on plastic surfaces and are resistant to treatment. Neither cleaning with bleach nor heating polymers in the microwave will get rid of germs.
Bacterial growth is not a problem for disposable items. But if you are planning to print products for long term use, we highly recommend using a food safe coating.
An effective way to combat particle migration and bacteria is to coat your 3D printed models with a food grade epoxy or polyurethane resin such as Masterbond EP42HT-2FG, ArtResin, or FDA approved polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon®).
Please note that even the coating does not guarantee food safety for prolonged use of the model . Not all coatings are dishwasher safe. In addition, they can wear out and expose the original surface.
Most 3D printing materials have a low heat distortion temperature. This means that they can crack or warp at high temperatures. Before washing, make sure that the material is resistant to the temperature of the dishwasher.
Particles can migrate from the surface of the 3D printer onto the model. Therefore, it is imperative that all components that come into contact with the 3D printed material or model are food-grade compatible and do not contain or release harmful chemicals.
Care must be taken when working with multiple materials, as previously used materials may leave toxic particles on printer components.
Many 3D printing materials are not food safe and may contain toxic chemicals. Use only materials that are certified food safe.
If the printed design is in contact with food for a long time, the risk of migration increases. Limit the time that unsafe materials come into contact with food and take precautions when making models that will come into contact with food for extended periods of time.
Think about the benefits of 3D printing for food contact applications. If you need to create custom shapes, you can use indirect 3D printing applications such as casting. See an example in the next section.
SLA 3D printing is based on photopolymerization, the process of curing liquid polymer into plastic using a laser. As a result, models printed with this method have the highest resolution, accuracy and surface quality compared to other technologies.
Is the polymer food safe? The answer is no. Substances can migrate from stereolithographic models, making polymers and printed products unsafe for food by default. Although some dental and medical polymers are certified biocompatible, this does not mean that they are food safe.
These materials are certified for a specific application and should not be used for food contact models.
Stereolithographic models have a smooth surface that facilitates the application of coatings to seal and protect against bacteria. The smoothness of the surface depends on the resin, layer thickness, orientation relative to the build platform, mesh triangulation resolution, and polymerization profile of the SLA resin. Printed designs should be rinsed and cured according to the manufacturer's instructions prior to coating. Please note that coating does not guarantee food safety with prolonged use of the model, as over time it collapses to the original surface.
TECHNICAL REPORT
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Creating custom molds is a common way to use SLA 3D printing to produce highly detailed models without direct food contact.
Although stereolithographic models cannot be used for direct food contact, SLA 3D printers allow the creation of concave molds by vacuum forming using food-safe plastic.
Food mold printing tools and methods are simple and effective.
Printed thermoforming molds and silicone for a unique design.
Learn more about making vacuum forming molds in our detailed guide.
Galvanization is the process of coating models with metal using electric current. Usually this method is used for decorative purposes or to create a durable surface to protect the product from corrosion.
Stereolithographic models are ideal for galvanization due to their smooth surface. Plastic does not conduct electricity, so stereolithographic models must be made conductive. To do this, you can use graphite, conductive varnish, a plate with a chemical coating or sputtering.
You can also use food-safe metal coatings. But since the manufacturing process is associated with various chemicals, you will have to take care of the safety of food products.
Stereolithographic 3D printing allows the production of ceramic models. Once printed, they can be fired in an oven to burn out the resin and create a durable, heat-resistant ceramic pattern. Glazing makes models more hygienic and resistant to most chemicals.
Various food-safe glazes are available on the market. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions and food safety regulations when using them.
Ceramic 3D printing is ideal for making complex geometries that cannot be done by hand.
Learn more about ceramics
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Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is a method of creating models by melting and extruding a thermoplastic filament, which is deposited layer by layer with a printer nozzle.
The extruded material has a round cross-section which leaves narrow gaps between the layers.
Their depth is directly proportional to the height of the layer. When printing food-safe models, it is recommended to use the lowest layer height possible.
The main challenge when printing with deposition modeling is avoiding the growth of bacteria. A model with a smooth surface is considered truly safe for prolonged contact with food. Chemical polishing with solvents such as acetone, D-limonene or ethyl acetate gives the surface a glossy finish. However, a subsequent application of a food-safe coating is recommended.
Layers printed with deposition modeling (left) and SLA (right).
Food grade filaments do not wear out the nozzle during printing because they do not contain composite particles. Do not use brass nozzles containing lead. For products in contact with food, choose special nozzles made of stainless steel.
Always check the compatibility of the 3D printer components with the filament. For example, polyetherimide, a US Food and Drug Administration-compliant material, must be processed at temperatures above 300°C.
This feature is not available on all printers.
Two materials are the most frequently asked questions about the safety of food products printed by fusing modeling. Is PLA food safe? Is ABS food safe? The answer is that it depends on some conditions.
Food-safe threads contain PLA, PP, copolyester, PET, PETG, high-impact polystyrene, nylon-6, and some types of ABS, ASA, and PEI. The need to wash the model in the dishwasher eliminates PET, nylon and PLA because they soften and deform at 60-70°C. If the model will be exposed to high temperatures, it is better to use copolyester, PLA-HT or PEI.
Some studies indicate the potential harm of these substances, although this is not reflected in the legislation. It is suggested that polystyrene can release styrenes, copolyester is unhealthy, and food-safe filaments become toxic due to oxidation and thermal degradation during the printing process.
| Thread | Grade | FDA (USA) | EU | Polish | Dishwasher resistant Selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printers use a high power laser to sinter fine polymer powder particles. |
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