Formfutura Volcano PLA Black

Volcano PLA is an industrial PLA developed for professional applications and characterised by its high heat resistance and excellent mechanical properties.

Although the mechanical and thermal properties are very similar to ABS, Volcano PLA is easy to print and biodegradable.

Key features of Volcano PLA

• Easy to print
• High heat resistance ≥ 95°C after heat treatment
• Less than 0.3% shrinkage after heat treatment
• Approx. 8x less shrinkage than comparable materials
• Excellent dimensional accuracy BEFORE and AFTER heat treatment
• Designed for high print speeds
• Excellent mechanical properties
• Biodegradable
• Matt surface

Heat treatment of Volcano PLA

Heat treatment is a secondary process in which a plastic part is heated to half its melting temperature for a period of time.

When the plastic part is heat-treated, the material relaxes and internal stresses are reduced. This leads to improved dimensional stability and better physical and thermal properties of the printed model.

• Step 1

Preheat a fan oven to 110°C. It is recommended to use a thermostat so that the exact temperature can be set.
It is extremely important to preheat the oven to this temperature as this will reduce shrinkage.

• Step 2

Once a stable temperature of 110 °C has been reached, quickly place your model printed from Volcano PLA in the oven, making sure to avoid losing heat as much as possible.
Do not remove any support structures from the model before placing it in the oven.

It is recommended to place the model on a flat sheet of metal or aluminium to ensure even heat transfer.

• Small objects - 20-minute timer

For small objects with thin walls and little filling material, it will take ± 20 minutes.

• Large objects - 60-minute timer

For large objects with thick walls and more filling material, it will take ± 60 minutes.

• Step 3

Once you have heated your model sufficiently, turn off the oven and let it cool to room temperature.
Do not remove the object until the oven has completely cooled.

• Step 4

When the oven is completely cool, remove the model. You can now remove the supports from the model.

Your model is now thermally treated and has achieved all the mechanical and thermal properties indicated in the technical datasheet.