PHA
BeginnerPolyhydroxyalkanoate
A fully biodegradable, bio-based polymer produced by bacterial fermentation of organic feedstocks. PHA decomposes in soil, compost, and marine environments — unlike PLA, which requires industrial composting. It prints similarly to PLA with slightly better flexibility and is the most environmentally friendly filament available for desktop 3D printing.
Nozzle Temp175–200°C
Bed Temp40–60°C
Print Speed25–45 mm/s
Printing Tips
- Print at the lower end of the temperature range (175-185°C) to avoid thermal degradation — PHA is sensitive to overheating.
- Use moderate cooling (50-70% fan) to maintain surface quality without making layers too brittle.
- PHA blends with PLA are more common and easier to print than pure PHA — check the blend ratio on the label.
- Store in a dry box; PHA is hygroscopic and moisture causes stringing, bubbling, and reduced biodegradability.
- Parts printed in PHA will biodegrade over months if buried in active compost — do not use for permanent outdoor applications.
- Reduce retraction distance to 2-3 mm to prevent stringing while avoiding filament grinding in the extruder.
Use Cases
Biodegradable packaging prototypesEco-friendly consumer product prototypesMarine-degradable research equipment tagsCompostable gardening tools and plant markersEducational models for sustainability demonstrationsDisposable event signage and displaysAgricultural seed coating molds
Compatible Printers
Find PHA slicer settings for your printer — browse all printers and select PHA from the filament selector.
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