Printing material durability

[rlrcstr 1]

How durable is the PLA material? I see some places that advertise it as "biodegradable". Will it start to deteriorate in my lifetime? I want to print some stuff that I will use for installing some LED lighting. It would be a bad thing if it started to degrade in a couple of years.

Or should I print with a different type of material?

Thanks.

J

 

[area0404 0]

It will endure at least a few years (I've seen PLA prints a few years old on a 3D printing shop's shelf). According to my past research, it lasts almost as long as normal plastic under standard condition. It is however highly biodegradable under condition of industrial compost which has much higher temperature compare to room temperature. Its endurance shouldn't be an issue.

However, your LED lighting may cause problems. The heat produce is likely to warp PLA in mere hours if they are placed together close enough. I think ABS may be a better choice here.