3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PLA Metal vs PVA

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

Metal-filled PLA guidePVA (soluble support) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PLA Metal comparisonsMore PVA comparisons
PLA Metal vs PVA — documented properties and sources
PropertyMetal-filled PLAPLAPVA (soluble support)SUPPORT
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$79.69/kg median; $24.99–$94.99/kg across 6 dated product listings$65.98/kg median; $42.00–$96.00/kg across 5 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPLA loaded with real metal powder — bronze, copper, steel or iron. Bambu Lab's PLA Sparkle TDS states it has "metal particles included in its composition"; its separately sold PLA Metal does not, and the store page says so explicitly[1][2][3][4][5][6]Polyvinyl alcohol — a water-soluble support polymer[7][8]
Densityg/cm³1.26 (Bambu Lab Sparkle, a trace-metal glitter grade) up to 3.9–4.0 for colorFabb bronze and copper and 2.3 for Proto-pasta steel, ISO 1183[4][1][2][9]0.6–0.9 (3DXTech AquaTek, ISO 1183) and 1.13 (Polymaker PolyDissolve S1)[7][8]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg spools cluster near 78[10][11][3]1 kg-equivalent spools span 42–96; the middle of the market is about 66[12][13][14][15]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg25–95 across brands; Bambu Lab Sparkle 25, Proto-pasta iron 65, colorFabb bronze and copper 84, Proto-pasta steel 95[10][3][11][9]42–96 across brands; IEMAI 3D E-WATER 42, YXPOLYER 55, Reli3D 66 at 500 g, Polymaker PolyDissolve S1 67 at 750 g, 3DXTech AquaTek 96 at 750 g in 1.75 mm[12][13][14][16][15]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[11][3][9][10]Stocked by most mainstream brands[12][13][14][16][15]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.1, 0.5, 0.75, 1 and 1.5 kg spools[17][11]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5 and 0.75 kg spools[12][13]
Typical applicationsDecorative castings and props that are polished or left to patinate; the density gives prints a metallic heft[1][3]Dissolvable support for PLA, TPU, PVB and PETG — Polymaker names those four for PolyDissolve S1[8]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C195–220 (colorFabb bronze and copper); 192 (Proto-pasta iron); 198 (Proto-pasta steel); 190–230 (Bambu Lab Sparkle)[1][3][9][4]215–225 (Polymaker PolyDissolve S1)[8]
Bed temperature°C50–60 (colorFabb, Proto-pasta); 35–45 (Bambu Lab)[1][3][4]25–60 (Polymaker PolyDissolve S1)[8]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Open frame is fine[1]Open frame is fine[8]
Part cooling fanOn (colorFabb copper); 0–100 % (colorFabb bronze)[1][2]Part cooling fan required (Simplify3D)[18]
Bed surface & adhesion aidGlass plate with glue stick or tape (colorFabb)[1][2]PEI sheet or painter's tape[18]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/s1.6–2.4 at Proto-pasta's 20–30 mm/s for iron and steel, 3.2–8 at colorFabb's 40–100 mm/s, on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[3][9][1][19]4–12 at Polymaker's 50–150 mm/s on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[8]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Not documentedSticks to most surfaces[18]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Not documentedModerate — retraction tuning needed[18]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; brittle in filament form and slow to print[3][9]Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; PVA is unusable once it has taken up moisture[20][8]
Extruder requirementProto-pasta advises an extrusion width 0.05 mm larger than the nozzle and warns that feeding is inconsistent below 0.4 mm and on Bowden machines[3][9]A second extruder or a tool changer; PVA is a support material, not a model material[8]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass acceptable; hardened steel for volume work[3][9]Brass fine indefinitely[8]
Abrasiveness1–5Moderately abrasive — metal fill[3][9]Non-abrasive[8]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle[9]Very high — frequent jams without careful setup; wet PVA foams and carbonises in the nozzle[20]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Not documentedHigh — all-metal hotend and strong cooling needed; Simplify3D warns PVA clogs if the nozzle is left hot while not extruding[18]
Hotend requirementProto-pasta recommends a wear-resistant or larger nozzle for longer service intervals[3][9]No special hot-end required, but the nozzle must not be parked hot[18]
Other hardware wearProto-pasta warns of more frequent nozzle replacement and first-layer adjustment[3][9]Not documented
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Moderate — the PLA matrix takes up 0.40–0.51 % saturated; the metal powder itself does not absorb water[21][22]Very high (>2 %) — Polymaker measures 10.21 % equilibrium water absorption, by far the highest in the dataset[8]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%Not documented10.21 equilibrium water absorption (Polymaker PolyDissolve S1)[8]
Symptoms when wetNot documentedBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface; with PVA this progresses to clogging[20]
Effect of moisture on strengthPolymaker rates PLA low-sensitivity and publishes no dry-versus-conditioned figures for this grade; absorbed water flashes to steam and shows as bubbling and poor layer adhesion[20]Polymaker groups PVA with nylon as the most moisture-prone class and says it often has to stay in a dryer while printing; there is no published dry-versus-conditioned strength comparison because PVA is not a structural material[20]
Storage requirementNot documentedSealed with desiccant at all times; PVA takes up water faster than any other filament here[20][8]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa25 (colorFabb copper) and 30 (colorFabb bronze), ISO 527-1A; Bambu Lab Sparkle 39 ± 3 printed XY, ISO 527[1][2][4]Not documented
Young's modulusMPa1940 ± 230 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab Sparkle)[4]Not documented
Elongation at break%3–10 (colorFabb copper) and 5–10 (colorFabb bronze), ISO 527-1A; 11.7 for Bambu Lab Sparkle printed XY[1][2][4]Not documented
Flexural strengthMPa75 ± 4 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab Sparkle)[4]Not documented
Flexural modulusMPa2350 ± 140 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab Sparkle)[4]Not documented
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²23.2 ± 2.4 printed XY, ISO 179, notched (Bambu Lab Sparkle)[4]Not documented
Other impact dataIzod notched 4.5 kJ/m² for colorFabb bronzeFill and 10 kJ/m² for copperFill (ISO 180); Charpy unnotched 66.5 kJ/m² for Bambu Lab Sparkle[1][2][4]Not documented
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa32 ± 2 printed Z, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab Sparkle)[4]Not documented
Brittleness1–5Brittle — Proto-pasta describes both its iron and steel grades as more brittle than standard PLA in filament form[3][9]Not documented
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Poor — no metal-filled creep test; plain printed PLA sagged from 12 to 16.2–21.8 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[23][24][25]Poor — deforms under load at room temperature; PVA is not used structurally[7]
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 and Proto-pasta describes its iron and steel grades as more brittle than standard PLA[26][3][9]Poor — fails after a few cycles[7]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[4]Not documented
Z strength as % of XY%82 by tensile (printed, Bambu Lab Sparkle)[4]Not documented
Wear resistance & frictionNot documented3DXTech marks tensile strength, modulus and elongation as not applicable for its PVA support grade — it is not characterised as a structural material[7]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C55 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa, Bambu Lab Sparkle)[4]Not documented
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C53 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa, Bambu Lab Sparkle)[4]Not documented
Glass transition (Tg)°C56 (DSC, Bambu Lab Sparkle)[4]60 (3DXTech AquaTek, DSC)[7]
Melting point / Vicat°C156 peak melt (DSC, Bambu Lab Sparkle)[4]Not documented
Continuous service temperature°CNot documentedBounded by a glass transition of 60 °C[7]
Flammability / UL 94Not documentedFlammable; no UL 94 rating published[7]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Degrades within weeks outdoors[27]Degrades within weeks outdoors, and dissolves in rain long before UV matters[8]
Outdoor durabilityProto-pasta markets its iron grade as rustable — the iron oxidises deliberately when exposed to moisture[3]Not documented
Chemical resistanceNot documentedDissolves in water; unusable in any wet or humid service environment[8][18]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedDissolves or disintegrates — by design[8][7]
Food contactNot documentedNot offered as a food-contact material[7]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot documentedPVA is water-soluble and biodegrades in wastewater treatment, but Simplify3D notes disposal should follow local guidance[18]
RecyclabilityNot documentedDissolved PVA goes to drain rather than to recycling[18]
Electrical & ESD propertiesProto-pasta magnetic iron PLA is ferromagnetic and responds to magnets[3]Surface resistance above 10^13 ohm/sq (ASTM D257, 3DXTech AquaTek PVA)[7]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission[28]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission; none of these materials was in the chamber study[28]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5None needed in a normal room[28]Open a window / occasional ventilation[28]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningPolishing is the intended finish — colorFabb and Proto-pasta both sell these grades to be sanded and buffed to a metallic shine[1][2][9]Not sanded — it is dissolved away rather than finished[18]
Gluing & solvent weldingNot documentedNot applicable — PVA is a sacrificial support[18]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNot documentedWater is the solvent; no vapour smoothing is used[8]
Support material pairingNot documentedThis is the support material; Polymaker pairs PolyDissolve S1 with PLA, TPU, PVB and PETG[8]
Dimensional accuracy & detailcolorFabb notes the metal fill increases die swell, so flow needs raising above plain PLA[2]Not documented
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inChloroform dissolves the PLA matrix (10 % w/v, 2–4 h at 23 °C) and leaves the filler as loose sludge; laboratory reagent.[29]Water — tap water works cold, warm moving water is faster; 6–12 h typical, changing the water every few hours.[30][31]
Softened or crazed byAcetone, ethyl acetate and toluene plasticise the matrix but dissolve <1 % even at 65 °C; acetone submersion crazes parts.[29][32]Nothing else: polyvinyl alcohol resists organic solvents, so an IPA or acetone rinse leaves the support intact.[33]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentChloroform vapour attacks only the resin fraction, so the filler is left standing proud; no workshop-safe agent exists.[34][32]None — water dissolves PVA rather than welding it, and no solvent gives it a smoothed surface.[30]

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. bronzeFill technical data sheet colorFabb · 2026-08 · tds
  2. copperFill technical data sheet colorFabb · 2026-08 · tds
  3. Magnetic Iron PLA — product page and technical data Proto-pasta · 2026-08 · tds
  4. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet — PLA Sparkle Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  5. PLA Metal — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Metal Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  7. AquaTek PVA Water Soluble Support Technical Data Sheet v1.0 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  8. PolyDissolve S1 Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  9. Stainless Steel PLA — product page and technical data Proto-pasta · 2026-08 · tds
  10. PLA Sparkle — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. bronzeFill — product page colorFabb US · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. YXPOLYER PVA 1 kg — product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  15. IEMAI 3D E-WATER water-soluble support filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  16. Reli3D PVA Filament 1.75 mm 500 g Natural — Amazon listing Amazon.com · 2026-08 · vendor
  17. Proto-pasta product catalogue Proto-pasta · 2026-08 · vendor
  18. PVA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  19. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  20. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  21. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Basic Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  22. PolyLite PLA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  23. BambuLab PLA Basic vs PLA Tough vs PLA-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  24. Polymaker PLA Pro vs PLA-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  25. Carbon Fiber PLA vs META-PLA vs PLA+ vs PLA by Sunlu — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  26. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  27. PLA — material guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  28. 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
  29. Solubility Study of Ingeo Biopolymer Grades in Common Organic Solvents (NWPD003) NatureWorks · 2019-10 · tds
  30. PolyDissolve S1 — Polymaker Wiki Polymaker · 2026-08 · doc
  31. 3DXTech AquaTek PVA product page 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  32. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  33. Polyvinyl alcohol — KURARAY POVAL application guide Kuraray · 2026-08 · tds
  34. 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