3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PLA Matte vs PLA Silk

Compare printing settings, strength, heat resistance, dated prices and sources.

Matte PLA guideSilk PLA guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PLA Matte comparisonsMore PLA Silk comparisons
PLA Matte vs PLA Silk — documented properties and sources
PropertyMatte PLAPLASilk PLAPLA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$19.09/kg median; $10.99–$32.16/kg across 10 dated product listings$19.49/kg median; $9.75–$24.99/kg across 15 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPLA compounded with a mineral filler — Fiberlogy names chalk — that scatters light into a diffuse finish[1][2]PLA with a gloss-forming additive package; suppliers publish the composition as polylactic acid only[3]
Densityg/cm³1.31 (Bambu Lab, ISO 1183) to 1.38 (Fiberlogy PLA Mineral, method not stated) — above plain PLA from the filler[2][1]1.27 (ISO 1183)[3]
Typical priceUSD/kgMainstream 1 kg spools cluster near 21[4][5][6]Mainstream 1 kg spools cluster near 20[7][8][9]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg11–32 across brands; budget house brands 11–19, Fiberlogy PLA Mineral 32[10][5][11]10–25 across brands; CHCKX 10 in a 16-roll bundle, SUNLU 13, LANDU 18, YXPOLYER 20, Polymaker 22, Devil Design 25[12][13][14][15][16]
Market availability1–5Stocked by most mainstream brands[10][6][4]Stocked by most mainstream brands[7][12][17]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm; 1 kg spools plus spool-less refills[4][18]1.75 mm; 1 and 1.1 kg spools; dual- and tri-colour coextruded variants[19][20]
Typical applicationsDisplay models and visible parts where a matte, non-reflective finish matters[2]Decorative prints where surface gloss matters more than strength[3]
Diameter tolerance± mm±0.03 (Bambu Lab)[21]±0.03 (Bambu Lab)[21]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C190–230 (Bambu Lab); 190–210 (Fiberlogy PLA Mineral)[2][1]210–240 — 20 °C above the plain PLA window[3]
Bed temperature°C35–45 (Bambu Lab); 60 (Fiberlogy)[2][1]35–45[3]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Open frame is fine[2][1]Open frame is fine[3][22]
Part cooling fanFan on; Fiberlogy specifies 75–100 %[2][1]Fan on[3]
Bed surface & adhesion aidCool plate, high-temperature plate or textured PEI with glue (Bambu Lab); smooth PEI, textured PEI or glass (Fiberlogy)[2][1]Cool Plate SuperTack, smooth PEI or textured PEI[3]
Warping tendency1–5None[2]None[3]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Sticks to anything[23]Sticks to anything[23]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Beginner — prints on any machine out of the box[2][1]Easy — minor profile tuning; hotter nozzle and slower cap of 250 mm/s[3]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[22][2][1]Brass fine indefinitely[22]
Abrasiveness1–5Slightly abrasive — mineral filler pushes density from 1.24 to 1.31–1.38[1][2][24]Non-abrasive[25][22]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Very low[22]Very low[22]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed; PLA softens below 60 °C[26]Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed; PLA softens below 60 °C[26]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[23]No special hot-end required[23]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Moderate — 0.40 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH[2]Moderate — 0.40 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH[3]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.40 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[2]0.40 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[3]
Drying temperature & time50 °C for 8 h in a forced-air dryer, or 60–70 °C for 12 h on an X1 heatbed; Fiberlogy specifies 50 °C for 6 h[2][1][27]55 °C for 8 h in a forced-air dryer, or 65–75 °C for 12 h on an X1 heatbed[3][27]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing, rough surface and weak layers[28]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing, rough surface and weak layers[28]
Effect of moisture on strengthPolymaker rates PLA low-sensitivity — the loss shows as poor layer adhesion and brittle layers rather than a published strength figure[28]Polymaker rates PLA low-sensitivity — the loss shows as poor layer adhesion and brittle layers rather than a published strength figure[28]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant below 20 % RH; shelf life at ambient is long[24][23]Sealed with desiccant below 20 % RH; shelf life at ambient is long[24][23]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa30 (printed XY, ISO 527, Bambu Lab); 35.1 on My Tech Fun bars for PolyTerra PLA[2][29]33 (printed XY, ISO 527); eSun Silk broke 22 % below the 16-brand PLA mean on identical 4×4 mm bars[3][30]
Young's modulusMPa1960 (Bambu Lab, printed XY, ISO 527); Fiberlogy PLA Mineral quotes 3500 (ISO 527, specimen type not stated)[2][1]2130 (printed XY, ISO 527)[3]
Elongation at break%14.8 (printed XY, ISO 527)[2]2.8 (printed XY, ISO 527) — a quarter of PLA Basic at 12.2[3][24]
Flexural strengthMPa53 (printed XY, ISO 178) — 30 % below PLA Basic at 76[2][24]75 (printed XY, ISO 178)[3]
Flexural modulusMPa2360 (printed XY, ISO 178)[2]2460 (printed XY, ISO 178)[3]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²6.3 (printed XY, ISO 179, notched); unnotched 19.2[2]10.3 (printed XY, ISO 179, notched); unnotched 18.5[3]
Other impact dataIzod 6.1 kJ/m² on My Tech Fun printed bars for PolyTerra PLA[29]Not documented
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa22 (printed Z, ISO 527); flexural Z falls to 29 against 53 in XY; 12.9 on My Tech Fun layer-adhesion bars[2][29]25 (printed Z, ISO 527), and flexural Z collapses to 30 against 75 in XY; eSun Silk broke at 12.3 kg where twelve of the 16 plain PLAs managed 44.6–61.5 kg[3][30][31]
Brittleness1–5Brittle — snaps with little warning[2]Brittle — snaps with little warning[3]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Poor — 12 mm bar sagged to 18.7 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[29]Poor — no silk-specific creep data published; plain PLA sagged from 12 to 18.7–20.3 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[32][29]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Poor — no grade-specific S-N curve; plain printed PLA ran 38 000–49 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength (R = 0.2)[33][26]Poor — no grade-specific S-N curve; plain printed PLA ran 38 000–49 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength (R = 0.2)[33][26]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[2]Rigid[3]
Z strength as % of XY%73 by tensile, 55 by flexural (printed, Bambu Lab)[2]76 by tensile, 40 by flexural (printed, Bambu Lab)[3]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C58 (Bambu Lab) and 48 (Fiberlogy PLA Mineral), ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa[2][1]60 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)[3]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C52 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[2]56 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[3]
Glass transition (Tg)°C61 (DSC)[2]57 (DSC)[3]
Melting point / Vicat°C163 peak melt (DSC); Vicat 63 °C[2]158 peak melt (DSC); Vicat 66 °C[3]
Continuous service temperature°C54 — loaded bars begin to move at this temperature[29]50 — a loaded bar begins to move at this temperature (My Tech Fun, eSun eSilk PLA)[31]
Annealing response50–60 °C for 6–12 h; some prints deform or warp, and a forced-air oven is required[2]50–55 °C for 6–12 h[3]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published by the major brands[24][34]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published by the major brands[24][34]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Degrades within weeks outdoors[26][35]Degrades within weeks outdoors[26][35]
Chemical resistanceGood against weak acids, oils and grease; poor against strong acids and alkalis; dissolved by chloroform, THF and hot benzene[34][26]Good against weak acids, oils and grease; poor against strong acids and alkalis; dissolved by chloroform, THF and hot benzene[34][26]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Good — insoluble in water[24]Good — insoluble in water[24]
Food contactBase resin is food-contact grade, but printed layer grooves harbour bacteria; Prusa advises against food use[26]Base resin is food-contact grade, but printed layer grooves harbour bacteria; Prusa advises against food use[26]
Biodegradability / compostabilityIndustrially compostable only — needs sustained 55 °C; not home compostable[36][26]Industrially compostable only — needs sustained 55 °C; not home compostable[36][26]
RecyclabilityMechanically recyclable; not accepted in household plastic collection[36]Mechanically recyclable; not accepted in household plastic collection[36]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission[37]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission[37]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5None needed in a normal room[37]None needed in a normal room[37]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningWet sanding — dry sanding heats the surface by friction and smears it[35][26]Wet sanding — dry sanding heats the surface by friction and smears it[35][26]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate for most joints; some grades partially dissolve and bond with acetone[26][38]Cyanoacrylate for most joints; some grades partially dissolve and bond with acetone[26][38]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing — only chloroform, hot benzene or THF, which are laboratory-only[26]No practical vapour smoothing — only chloroform, hot benzene or THF, which are laboratory-only[26]
Support material pairingSupport for PLA (Bambu Lab)[2]Support for PLA (Bambu Lab)[3]
Dimensional accuracy & detailMatte surface hides layer lines; 55° overhangs and 30 mm bridges as for plain PLA[2]55° overhangs and 30 mm bridges; gloss hides fine detail and is destroyed by sanding[3]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inChloroform: 10 % w/v in 2–4 h at 23 °C, every grade and morphology; THF and DMF only at 65 °C. Laboratory reagents.[39]Chloroform: 10 % w/v in 2–4 h at 23 °C, every grade and morphology; THF and DMF only at 65 °C. Laboratory reagents.[39]
Softened or crazed byAcetone, ethyl acetate and toluene plasticise it but dissolve <1 % even at 65 °C; submersion in acetone crazes and destroys parts.[39][40]Acetone, ethyl acetate and toluene plasticise it but dissolve <1 % even at 65 °C; submersion in acetone crazes and destroys parts.[39][40]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentChloroform vapour smooths and welds PLA at the cost of tensile strength; acetone does not smooth it at all.[41][40]Chloroform vapour smooths and welds PLA at the cost of tensile strength; acetone does not smooth it at all.[41][40]

Material entries describe families or representative grades, not an interchangeable specification for every spool. Test methods, orientations and conditions may differ. Unknown values are marked “Not documented”. Prices and source dates remain historical snapshots; check the linked guide for product details. Differences highlight text, not a universal winner.

Sources for this comparison

  1. PLA Mineral — product and technical data Fiberlogy · 2026-08 · tds
  2. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Matte Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  3. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V1.0 — PLA Silk+ Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  4. Polymaker Panchroma Matte PLA — product listing 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  5. Overture Matte PLA 1.75mm Overture3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. Matte PLA filament collection Anycubic Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. Panchroma Silk PLA collection Polymaker Shop · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. Spectrum PLA Silk — product listing 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. 3DJake ecoPLA Silk Black 1.75mm 1000g 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Matte PLA filament collection Sunlu Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. Fiberlogy PLA Mineral — product listing 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. Sunlu Silk PLA+ 1.75mm 1kg Sunlu Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. Bambu Lab PLA Silk 1.75mm 1kg 3D Universe · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. CHCKX 16 Pack Silk Dual Color PLA Filament Bundle CHCKX (Amazon US) · 2026-08 · vendor
  15. YXPOLYER Silk PLA Black&Gold product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  16. LANDU Silk Tri-Color PLA Filament 1.75 mm 1 kg LANDU (Amazon US) · 2026-08 · vendor
  17. Overture Silk PLA 1.75mm Overture3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  18. Extrudr PLA NX2 Matt — product listing 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  19. eSUN PLA-Silk Magic 1.75mm eSUN Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  20. JAYO Silk PLA+ 1.75mm 1.1kg JAYO Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  21. PLA Basic — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  22. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  23. PLA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  24. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Basic Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  25. Prusament PLA — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  26. PLA — material guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  27. Filament Drying Recommendations Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  28. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  29. PolyTerra PLA vs PLA+ — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  30. 16 PLA brand comparison test — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2022-10 · test
  31. Testing eSun PLA filaments: PLA-ST vs PLA+ vs Silk PLA My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  32. BambuLab PLA Basic vs PLA Tough vs PLA-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  33. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  34. PolyLite PLA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  35. Prusament PLA Technical Data Sheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2018-09 · tds
  36. Filamentive PLA (recycled) — product page Filamentive · 2026-08 · vendor
  37. Emissions of Ultrafine Particles and Volatile Organic Compounds from Commercially Available Desktop Three-Dimensional Printers with Multiple Filaments (Azimi et al.) Environmental Science & Technology 50(3) 1260-1268 · 2016-01 · paper
  38. Prusament rPLA Corn Pigment 1kg — product page Prusa Research · 2026-08 · vendor
  39. Solubility Study of Ingeo Biopolymer Grades in Common Organic Solvents (NWPD003) NatureWorks · 2019-10 · tds
  40. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  41. Effect of vapour smoothing in trichloromethane on 3D printed PLA — surface, mechanical and chemical structure Pitale, Keche & Chopra, Engineering Research Express 6(4) 045579 · 2024-12 · paper