Reform rPLA (Recycled)

Formfutura is a renowned manufacturer of 3D printing materials focused on the development of filaments for 3D FDM printing. Formfutura works continuously on the development of innovative materials for 3D printing.

Reform rPLA is a PLA filament. PLA (polylactic acid) is a biodegradable bioplastic obtained from natural resources, specifically from starch extracted from corn, beet and wheat.

PLA is one of the most widely used materials in 3D printing today because it does not give off harmful gases and is easy to print on. The ease of use of this material derives from several factors:

• It does not require a warm bed, although if available, it is recommended to use it at about 60 ºC.
• It is generally printed at low temperatures (between 190ºC and 220ºC).
• It is a material with almost no warping (warping is the deformation of the pieces with respect to the base).

The low technical requirements of this material allow it to be printed on almost any 3D printer on the market.

Reform is a sustainable initiative created by Formfutura to efficiently manage extrusion waste from the filament manufacturing process; converting it into high-end filaments. The ideology behind Reform is to promote sustainable 3D printing, without compromising the properties and quality of the material, and without making the materials more expensive.

The Reform rPLA filament is developed from extrusion waste streams that are recomposed and homogenised into a high quality, easy to print, recycled PLA filament with significantly less environmental impact. All this is produced by a filament waste recycling process.

Image 1: Reform rPLA cycle. Source: Formfutura.

Recycling is a process whose objective is to convert waste into new products or raw materials for later use. Recycling prevents the disuse of potentially useful materials, reduces the consumption of new raw materials, energy use, air and water pollution and reduces the emission of greenhouse gases.

Only EasyFil PLA waste, Formfutura's high quality PLA filament, is used for the production of Reform rPLA filament. This means that the resulting filament is of the highest quality and maintains the properties of PLA: Good adhesion to the printing base even without a hot bed, high adhesion between layers, easy printing and almost no deformation.

Image 2: Parts printed on Reform rPLA. Source: Formfutura.

It should be noted that Reform rPLA is a moderately hygroscopic material, which means that it absorbs moisture from the air to some extent. This can cause a decrease in print quality. To keep the filament free of moisture, it is recommended that the rolls are stored in vacuum packaging such as PrintDry or that a PrintDry II filament dryer is used.

In line with the material, its packaging is environmentally friendly. Reform rPLA filaments are wound on recycled cardboard reels, which are easy to recycle and dispose of. These reels are in turn packed in recycled cardboard boxes.

Thanks to initiatives such as Reform by Formfutura, users have sustainable and high-quality alternatives for their 3D printing projects.