When considering 3D printing parts for your car’s interior, it’s crucial to choose the right material that can withstand the conditions inside your vehicle. One common question arises: can Polylactic Acid (PLA) be used for car parts inside? The short answer is generally no, especially for parts that might be exposed to heat.
PLA, while popular for its ease of printing and biodegradability, has a significant drawback when it comes to automotive applications: temperature sensitivity. Inside a car, especially when parked in the sun, temperatures can climb rapidly. Even on a moderately warm day, the temperature inside your car can easily exceed 50°C (122°F) or even higher in hotter climates.
Experience shows that PLA parts can deform under these conditions. Imagine printing a sun visor hinge pin from PLA, even if it’s not in direct sunlight. As one user found, even on days not exceeding 29°C (85°F), a PLA hinge pin deformed simply from being inside the car. While this pin was eventually replaced with PETG, even PETG showed slight deformation in extreme heat within the vehicle.
Although a Car Part Inside situated lower down in the vehicle might experience slightly less extreme temperatures, it’s still risky to rely on PLA. For any component requiring durability and heat resistance, materials like Nylon (Polyamide, PA), ABS, or high-temperature resistant co-polymers are much better choices. These materials, such as Amphora HT5300 based co-polymers, are designed to withstand higher temperatures without losing their shape or structural integrity.
For non-load-bearing and unstressed car parts inside, like covers or bushings that remain in cooler, shaded areas of the interior, PLA might be considered. However, for peace of mind and long-term reliability, it’s advisable to directly print even these components with a more temperature-resistant material.
Material datasheets from filament manufacturers clearly outline these limitations. For instance, Ultimaker’s data on PLA specifies it is “not suitable for applications where the printed part is exposed to temperatures higher than 50 °C (122 °F).” Similarly, for Nylon, while more heat resistant, it’s also “not suitable for applications where the printed part is exposed to temperatures higher than 80 °C (176 °F).”
To give a broader perspective, here are general temperature guidelines for various 3D printing materials in prolonged exposure scenarios:
- Basic Co-Polymers: up to 70 °C (158 °F)
- ABS: up to 85 °C (185 °F)
- Enhanced Co-Polymers and ASA: up to 100 °C (212 °F)
- Polypropylene (PP): up to 105 °C (221 °F)
- Polycarbonate (PC): up to 110 °C (230 °F)
In conclusion, while PLA is a versatile 3D printing material, its low heat resistance makes it unsuitable for most car parts inside a vehicle that could be exposed to elevated temperatures. For reliable and durable car part inside your automobile, opt for materials engineered to withstand higher temperatures such as ABS, Nylon, or specialized co-polymers. Always consult material datasheets to ensure you choose the right filament for your specific automotive application.
