3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

rPLA vs PLA Stone

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

Recycled PLA (rPLA) guideStone-filled PLA guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore rPLA comparisonsMore PLA Stone comparisons
rPLA vs PLA Stone — documented properties and sources
PropertyRecycled PLA (rPLA)PLAStone-filled PLAPLA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$20.79/kg median; $16.05–$40.64/kg across 8 dated product listings$22.99/kg median; $15.99–$49.16/kg across 6 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPLA regranulated from post-industrial PLA manufacturing waste; post-consumer feedstock is rare[1][2][3]PLA filled with stone or mineral powder — Formfutura StoneFil declares 40–50 wt% stone powder[4][5]
Densityg/cm³1.24 (ISO 1183)[1]1.22 (Bambu Lab PLA Marble) and 1.50–1.70 (Formfutura StoneFil), ISO 1183[5][4]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg spools run 20–22[6][7][8]1 kg spools cluster near 21[9][10]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg16–41 across brands; Fiberlogy refill 16, Filamentive 750 g 41[11][12]16–49 across brands; SUNLU 16, ELEGOO 19, Polymaker 21, Bambu Lab 25, Prusament 38, Filament PM MarbleJet 49 on 0.5 kg spools[13][10][9][14][15][16]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[2][3][8]Stocked by most mainstream brands[9][10][13]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.75, 0.85 and 1 kg spools plus spool-less refills[17][11][2]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5 and 1 kg spools plus refills[10][4]
Typical applicationsGeneral-purpose printing where the feedstock's recycled content matters more than an exact colour match[2][3]Architectural models, sculpture and props with a matte mineral surface[5]
Diameter tolerance± mm±0.03 guaranteed by Prusa Research today; the 2021 datasheet specified ±0.05, against ±0.02 for virgin Prusament PLA[2][1][18]Not documented
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C210 ± 10 (Prusament); 200 ± 15 (Filamentive)[1][3]190–230 (Bambu Lab)[5]
Bed temperature°C40–60 (Prusament); up to 60 (Filamentive)[1][3]35–45 (Bambu Lab)[5]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Open frame is fine[1][19]Open frame is fine[5]
Part cooling fan100 %[1]Fan on[5]
Warping tendency1–5None — brim not generally needed[1]Not documented
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Sticks to anything[20]Not documented
Overall printing difficulty1–5Beginner — prints on any machine out of the box[1][19]Easy — minor profile tuning; 0.2 mm nozzles are not usable[21]
Extruder requirementNot documentedNozzles below 0.4 mm are not compatible (Bambu Lab)[21]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[19]Brass acceptable; hardened steel for volume work — Bambu Lab's compatibility table says no hardened nozzle is needed while the note under the same table groups PLA Marble with particle-filled materials that should always use one[21]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive[22][19]Moderately abrasive — stone fill[21][4]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Very low[19]Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle[21]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed; PLA softens below 60 °C[23]Not documented
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[20]Not documented
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Moderate — 0.3 % after both 24 h and 7 days at 28 °C / 37 % RH (Prusa Polymers method), against 0.19 % in 7 days for virgin Prusament PLA[1][18]Moderate — 0.44 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH[5]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.3 after 24 h and 7 days at 28 °C / 37 % RH (Prusa Polymers method)[1]0.44 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[5]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing, rough surface and weak layers[24]Not documented
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[24]Polymaker 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[24]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant below 20 % RH; shelf life at ambient is long[25][20]Not documented
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa49 printed horizontal and 55 printed vertical XZ (ISO 527-1, yield); virgin Prusament PLA gives 51 and 59 by the same method[1][18]33 ± 4 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab)[5]
Young's modulusMPa2100 printed horizontal, 2300 printed vertical XZ (ISO 527-1); virgin Prusament PLA 2300 and 2400[1][18]2330 ± 240 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab)[5]
Elongation at break%3.1 at yield printed horizontal (ISO 527-1); virgin Prusament PLA 2.9[1][18]6.7 ± 0.5 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab)[5]
Flexural strengthMPa82 printed horizontal, 87 printed vertical XZ (ISO 178); virgin Prusament PLA 83 and 99[1][18]75 ± 5 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab)[5]
Flexural modulusMPa3100 printed horizontal (ISO 178) — the same as virgin Prusament PLA[1][18]2920 ± 180 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab)[5]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²Not documented9.5 ± 2.6 printed XY, ISO 179, notched (Bambu Lab)[5]
Other impact dataCharpy unnotched 14.0 printed horizontal (ISO 179-1); virgin Prusament PLA 13[1][18]Charpy unnotched 24.0 printed XY (Bambu Lab, ISO 179)[5]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa21 ± 2 (Prusa Polymers interlayer adhesion test); virgin Prusament PLA 17 ± 3 by the same test[1][18]30 ± 4 printed Z, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab)[5]
Brittleness1–5Brittle — snaps with little warning[23][22]Brittle — snaps with little warning[5]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / Rockwell80 Shore D (Prusa Polymers in-house method); virgin Prusament PLA 81[1][18]Not documented
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Poor — no recycled-PLA creep data published; virgin PLA sagged from 12 to 18.7–20.3 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[26][27]Poor — no stone-filled creep test; plain printed PLA sagged from 12 to 16.2–21.8 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[26][28][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)[30][23]Poor — no grade-specific S-N curve; plain printed PLA ran 38 000–49 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength and the mineral filler leaves a brittle compound[30][5]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[22]Rigid[5]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented91 by tensile, 73 by flexural (printed, Bambu Lab)[5]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C55 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa) — the same as virgin Prusament PLA[1][18]56 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)[5]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C53 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa); virgin Prusament PLA 55[1][18]53 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[5]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented56 (DSC)[5]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documented156 peak melt (DSC); Formfutura gives a 120–170 melting range for StoneFil[5][4]
Continuous service temperature°C55 (Filamentive states heat resistance up to 55 °C)[3]Not documented
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·K96–99 for plain printed PLA (fibre Bragg grating, 25–50 °C); no grade-specific measurement published[31]Not documented
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published by the major brands[25][32]Not documented
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Degrades within weeks outdoors[23][33]Degrades within weeks outdoors[23]
Chemical resistanceGood against weak acids, oils and grease; poor against strong acids and alkalis; dissolved by chloroform, THF and hot benzene[32][23]Not documented
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Good — insoluble in water[25]Not documented
Food contactFilamentive certifies its rPLA to EN 71-3 and lists it food safe; printed layer grooves still harbour bacteria[3][23]Not documented
Biodegradability / compostabilityIndustrially compostable only — needs sustained 55 °C; not home compostable[3]Not documented
RecyclabilityThe feedstock itself; Filamentive uses 50 % post-industrial content and runs a PLA take-back scheme[3][12]Not documented
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission[34]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission[34]
Hazardous species emittedPrusament rPLA Corn Pigment uses organic waste pigments such as red algae, which give a noticeable scent while printing[2]Not documented
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5None needed in a normal room[34]None needed in a normal room[34]
Dust & fibre handling hazardNot documentedFormfutura's SDS sets an occupational limit of 1 mg/m³ for the stone powder and lists it as both a fibre and a particulate — do not dry-sand without extraction[4]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningWet sanding — dry sanding heats the surface by friction and smears it[33][23]Sands to a stone-like matte surface[4]
Gluing & solvent weldingSuperglue for most joints; acetone works on some grades depending on additives and colour[2]Not documented
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing — only chloroform, hot benzene or THF, which are laboratory-only[23]Not documented
Support material pairingNot documentedSupport for PLA (Bambu Lab)[5]
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedMatte mineral surface hides layer lines; 55° overhangs and 30 mm bridges as for plain PLA[5]
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.[35]Chloroform dissolves the PLA matrix (10 % w/v, 2–4 h at 23 °C) and leaves the filler as loose sludge; laboratory reagent.[35]
Softened or crazed byAcetone, ethyl acetate and toluene plasticise it but dissolve <1 % even at 65 °C; submersion in acetone crazes and destroys parts.[35][36]Acetone, ethyl acetate and toluene plasticise the matrix but dissolve <1 % even at 65 °C; acetone submersion crazes parts.[35][36]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentChloroform vapour smooths and welds PLA at the cost of tensile strength; acetone does not smooth it at all.[37][36]Chloroform vapour attacks only the resin fraction, so the filler is left standing proud; no workshop-safe agent exists.[37][36]

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. Prusament PLA Recycled Technical Datasheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2021-12 · tds
  2. Prusament rPLA Corn Pigment 1kg — product page Prusa Research · 2026-08 · vendor
  3. Filamentive PLA (recycled) — product page Filamentive · 2026-08 · vendor
  4. StoneFil safety data sheet Formfutura · 2026-08 · msds
  5. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet — PLA Marble Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  6. 3D-Fuel ReFuel Recycled PLA 1kg 3D-Fuel · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. Proto-pasta Black Recycled PLA 1kg Proto-pasta · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. Formfutura ReForm rPLA (White) 1kg Filament2Print · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. PLA Marble — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. Fiberlogy rPLA Refill Anthracite 850 g 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. Filamentive PLA (rPLA) 750 g CREATE Education · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. ELEGOO product catalogue ELEGOO · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. Printed Solid product catalogue Printed Solid · 2026-08 · vendor
  15. SUNLU High Speed PLA Marble 3D Printer Filament 1 kg SUNLU · 2026-08 · vendor
  16. Filament PM PLA MarbleJet technical data sheet Filament PM (Plasty Mladec) · 2026-08 · tds
  17. Kimya PLA-R 750 g Crea3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  18. Prusament PLA Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  19. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  20. PLA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  21. PLA Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  22. Prusament PLA — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  23. PLA — material guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  24. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  25. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Basic Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  26. BambuLab PLA Basic vs PLA Tough vs PLA-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  27. PolyTerra PLA vs PLA+ — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  28. Polymaker PLA Pro vs PLA-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  29. Carbon Fiber PLA vs META-PLA vs PLA+ vs PLA by Sunlu — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  30. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  31. Characterization of Thermal Expansion Coefficient of 3D Printing Polymeric Materials Using Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors Materials 17(18):4668 · 2024-09 · paper
  32. PolyLite PLA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  33. Prusament PLA Technical Data Sheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2018-09 · tds
  34. 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
  35. Solubility Study of Ingeo Biopolymer Grades in Common Organic Solvents (NWPD003) NatureWorks · 2019-10 · tds
  36. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  37. 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