PolyLite PLA Silk

Polymaker is a company with an impressive portfolio that contains both commodity, engineering and advanced plastics, with Polymaker's proprietary technologies ensuring highest quality and optimal properties. The materials in the PolyLite family of 3D printing filaments by Polymaker are made with the best raw materials to deliver exceptional quality and reliability. PolyLite covers the most popular 3D printing materials, such as PLA, PETG, PC, ABS, ASA to meet the user's everyday needs in design and prototyping. The PLA Silk from the PolyLite family of filaments is characterized by easy processing, versatility of use and a silky, glossy surface finish on the 3D printed parts.

Image 1: Parts 3D printed with the PolyLite PLA Silk filament in various colors. Source: Polymaker.

The most distinguishing feature of the PolyLite PLA Silk filament is its special surface finish that ensures that the print layers on the surfaces of the 3D printed part are less visible and appear smoother. This property is extremely important for applications such as design, the making of miniatures or decorative items, or even prototyping where the model needs to look as realistic and attractive as possible.

Apart from the one-color silks filaments, the PLA Silk line also offers dual colors such as Dual Aubergine (lime + magenta), Dual Beluga (silver + blue), Dual Chameleon (yellow + blue), Dual Caribbean (blue + green), Dual Crown (gold + silver), Dual Sovereign (gold + purple), Dual Banquet (gold + magenta), Dual Jadeite (green + chrome) and Dual Sunset (gold + red).

Image 2: Parts 3D printed with the PolyLite PLA Dual Silk filaments. Source: Polymaker.

Since the PolyLite PLA Silk filament is made of PLA, it is an environmentally friendly, biodegradable and compostable material. PLA is a plastic obtained from the highest quality biological sources such as corn starch, beet pulp or sugarcane. The sugar in those plants is converted into lactic acid which serves as the base for PLA, polylactic acid.

Video 1: The Polymaker Jam-Free technology. Source: Polymaker.

Apart from that, the PLA Silk filament uses the Polymaker Jam-Free technology, used in all Polymaker PLA filament. This technology improves the heat stability of of the filament, with softening temperatures over 140 °C. As a result, Polymaker’s PLA filaments show minimal softening in the "cold end" and can melt rapidly once entering the heating zone, leading to excellent printing quality with zero risk of nozzle jams.

Furthermore, PLA is known for its excellent post processability. It can be annealed to achieve stronger parts, as well as sanded, polished and painted. The PolyLite PLA Silk filament can be wet sanded to obtain a smoother surface or even dipped in hot water (above 70˚C) to be be reshaped (the model will then harden back in its new shape). This, in combination with the many available color options, makes the PolyLite PLA Silk an great material for use in prototyping as well as non-functional models that will stand out thanks to their impeccable surface finish and an incredibly silky look and feel.