is PLA and ABS food safe?

[Sagexs 1]

Hello there,

is PLA and ABS food safe?

I'd like to print a coffee mug and chocolate moulds.

Best regards!

[IRobertI 521]

Unless you can get a MSDS from the place you're buying it from that says that it is, then no. There are materials that are classified as safe for food contact such as Colorfabb's XT. However, that's only half the story. Is the rest of your system completely safe? Are there any contaminants in the chain? Will your nozzle release anything into the plastic? Do you have remnants of other stuff in your bowden/nozzle/feeder that could get into the print?

But more importantly, the surface of a print is a great place for nasties to grow. It's not a completely smooth surface, there are print lines, pockets of air, they're often not completely water tight etc etc.

And then there's the problem of hot coffee melting/deforming your print because it's simply too hot. And I assume you'll want to put it in the dishwasher which would also destroy it (at least in the case of PLA).

For the moulds you could maybe make intermediate moulds out of plastic. Post process them so they are nice and smooth and then create silicon moulds from them?

[jonnybischof 60]

Afaik, Taulman's Nylon filaments are certified food safe. Check their homepage to be sure if you're interested.

The problem with PLA filaments not being food safe is not the PLA (which is a food safe plastic), but the additives such as the color pigments. I read somewhere that especially neon green and orange colors are pretty nasty..

/edit:

I'd recommend Colorfabb's XT for the coffee mug. Should be able to withstand the temperature. It might be a problem if you put boiling hot water into the mug.. (interesting experiment though )

I'm not sure if the food safety certificate only applies for the clear XT, or also the colored ones. Make sure before you buy!

Edited October 19, 2015 by Guest

[SandervG 1,521]

I believe filaments can be food safe before they are submitted to the print process.

During the print process, if your print profile is not perfect (like to hot) it can carbonise

the filament making it not food safe. Then, you also have IRobertsI answer where the surface has a lot of room for nasties.

[jonnybischof 60]

Oh, and one other thing. Brass nozzles "could" be an issue, too (I heard that, need more details to confirm..). Probably not a problem for home use, but especially if you want to do anything commercial you should definitely use a stainless steel nozzle.

[ZUBAID RAZ 0]

sir,

  I am working on the sustainable 3d printing. Can you provide any certification for PLA being safe and eco-friendly ?

 

thank you.

 

regards

zubaid

zubaidraz@gmail.com

[DidierKlein 729]

Hi and welcome,

 

For this it would be better to directly contact filament producers. You can also find some documents about safety and FDA approval on them

[ZUBAID RAZ 0]

whom to contact, can you help ?

 

[DidierKlein 729]

I know Colorfabb has some information:

 

https://colorfabb.com/materials-data/

 

 

[ZUBAID RAZ 0]

i want to know the info about ultimaker PLA 

[DidierKlein 729]

Info here:

 

https://ultimaker.com/en/products/materials/pla

[ZUBAID RAZ 0]

thank you for the information but i need to get any certificate of proof. like SGS certification or other

[DidierKlein 729]

Did you see the links below? https://ultimaker.com/en/resources/49911-pla#safety

 

[ZUBAID RAZ 0]

I saw the link. its helpful but i need to get any certificate of proof. like SGS certification or other. Any certificate from the concerned authority that it uses PLA. 

[Bossler 8]

afaik BioFila from TwoBears should be food safe. They also provide BioFila that is said to be stable up to 130°C.

It's some PLA-derivate and they are very keen on sustainability.

They even do not use sealed plastic bags for their filament - which I personally think is a bit too sustainable, but okay.

 

For Taulmann's Nylon 910 it's explicitly stated to be FDA-approved.