3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PLA Silk vs PLA Wood

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

Silk PLA guideWood-filled PLA guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PLA Silk comparisonsMore PLA Wood comparisons
PLA Silk vs PLA Wood — documented properties and sources
PropertySilk PLAPLAWood-filled PLAPLA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$19.49/kg median; $9.75–$24.99/kg across 15 dated product listings$34.49/kg median; $13.99–$76.40/kg across 6 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPLA with a gloss-forming additive package; suppliers publish the composition as polylactic acid only[1]PLA filled with wood powder — 10–18 wt% (Bambu Lab SDS); colorFabb woodFill uses a PLA/PHA base with recycled wood fibre[2][3]
Densityg/cm³1.27 (ISO 1183)[1]1.15 (colorFabb) to 1.23 (Fiberlogy), ISO 1183; Bambu Lab 1.21[4][3][5]
Typical priceUSD/kgMainstream 1 kg spools cluster near 20[6][7][8]1 kg spools cluster near 25; counting the 0.5 kg specialty spools the middle of the market is about 34[9][10][11]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg10–25 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]14–76 across brands; SUNLU 14, ELEGOO 19, Bambu Lab 25, Prusament 44, Filament PM 49 on 0.5 kg spools, colorFabb 76[10][9][17][18][19][11]
Market availability1–5Stocked by most mainstream brands[6][12][20]Stocked by most mainstream brands[9][10][18][5]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm; 1 and 1.1 kg spools; dual- and tri-colour coextruded variants[21][22]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.6, 0.85 and 1 kg spools[18][5][9]
Typical applicationsDecorative prints where surface gloss matters more than strength[1]Decorative and model-making prints that are sanded and stained like timber[4][3]
Diameter tolerance± mm±0.03 (Bambu Lab)[23]±0.03 (Bambu Lab)[4]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C210–240 — 20 °C above the plain PLA window[1]190–240 (Bambu Lab); colorFabb advises 195–220 for its PLA/PHA base[4][3]
Bed temperature°C35–45[1]35–45 (Bambu Lab); 50–70 (Fiberlogy)[4][5]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Open frame is fine[1][24]Open frame is fine[4]
Part cooling fanFan on[1]Fan on[4]
Bed surface & adhesion aidCool Plate SuperTack, smooth PEI or textured PEI[1]Not documented
Warping tendency1–5None[1]None[4]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Sticks to anything[25]Not documented
Overall printing difficulty1–5Easy — minor profile tuning; hotter nozzle and slower cap of 250 mm/s[1]Easy — minor profile tuning; pre-drying is required and the wood content chars if it sits hot[26][4]
Extruder requirementNot documentedNozzles below 0.4 mm are not compatible; Bambu Lab does not recommend the AMS lite[26]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[24]Brass acceptable; hardened steel for volume work — Bambu Lab's PLA compatibility table lists no hardened-nozzle requirement, but its nozzle guide names wood among the abrasive filaments hardened steel exists for[26][27]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive[28][24]Moderately abrasive — wood fill[26]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Very low[24]Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; wood particles char and block small nozzles[26]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed; PLA softens below 60 °C[29]Not documented
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[25]Not documented
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Moderate — 0.40 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH[1]High — 1.25 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH, the highest in the PLA family[4]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.40 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[1]1.25 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[4]
Drying temperature & time55 °C for 8 h in a forced-air dryer, or 65–75 °C for 12 h on an X1 heatbed[1][30]55 °C for 8 h in a forced-air dryer; Bambu Lab lists pre-drying as required[4][26]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing, rough surface and weak layers[31]Bambu Lab flags pre-drying and ventilation as specific requirements for this grade[26]
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[31]No dry-versus-conditioned figures are published. At 1.25 % saturated uptake the practical loss shows as poor layer adhesion, rough surface and weak layers[31][4]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant below 20 % RH; shelf life at ambient is long[32][25]Not documented
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa33 (printed XY, ISO 527); eSun Silk broke 22 % below the 16-brand PLA mean on identical 4×4 mm bars[1][33]26 ± 5 (Bambu Lab) and 28.4 (colorFabb) printed XY, ISO 527; Fiberlogy quotes 35 at yield[4][3][5]
Young's modulusMPa2130 (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]2360 ± 190 (Bambu Lab) and 2479 (colorFabb) printed XY, ISO 527; Fiberlogy 2950[4][3][5]
Elongation at break%2.8 (printed XY, ISO 527) — a quarter of PLA Basic at 12.2[1][32]4.5 (colorFabb) to 15.3 (Bambu Lab) printed XY, ISO 527; Fiberlogy 6.5[4][3][5]
Flexural strengthMPa75 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]55 ± 4 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab)[4]
Flexural modulusMPa2460 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]2780 ± 120 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab)[4]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²10.3 (printed XY, ISO 179, notched); unnotched 18.5[1]3.81 (colorFabb) and 6.3 ± 2.2 (Bambu Lab) printed XY, ISO 179, notched[4][3]
Other impact dataNot documentedCharpy unnotched 12.28 (colorFabb) and 15.7 (Bambu Lab), printed, ISO 179[4][3]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa25 (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[1][33][34]15 ± 4 printed Z, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab); flexural Z falls to 28 against 55 in XY[4]
Brittleness1–5Brittle — snaps with little warning[1]Brittle — snaps with little warning[4]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Poor — no silk-specific creep data published; plain PLA sagged from 12 to 18.7–20.3 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[35][36]Poor — no wood-filled creep test; plain printed PLA sagged from 12 to 16.2–21.8 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[35][37][38]
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)[39][29]Poor — no grade-specific S-N curve; plain printed PLA ran 38 000–49 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength and the wood filler cuts elongation and the parts snap without warning[39][4]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[4]
Z strength as % of XY%76 by tensile, 40 by flexural (printed, Bambu Lab)[1]58 by tensile, 51 by flexural (printed, Bambu Lab)[4]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C60 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)[1]60 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)[4]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C56 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[1]57 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[4]
Glass transition (Tg)°C57 (DSC)[1]54 (Bambu Lab, DSC); Fiberlogy quotes 55–60[4][5]
Melting point / Vicat°C158 peak melt (DSC); Vicat 66 °C[1]156 peak melt (DSC)[4]
Continuous service temperature°C50 — a loaded bar begins to move at this temperature (My Tech Fun, eSun eSilk PLA)[34]Not documented
Annealing response50–55 °C for 6–12 h[1]Not documented
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published by the major brands[32][40]Not documented
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Degrades within weeks outdoors[29][41]Degrades within weeks outdoors[29]
Chemical resistanceGood against weak acids, oils and grease; poor against strong acids and alkalis; dissolved by chloroform, THF and hot benzene[40][29]Not documented
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Good — insoluble in water[32]Not documented
Food contactBase resin is food-contact grade, but printed layer grooves harbour bacteria; Prusa advises against food use[29]Not documented
Biodegradability / compostabilityIndustrially compostable only — needs sustained 55 °C; not home compostable[42][29]Not documented
RecyclabilityMechanically recyclable; not accepted in household plastic collection[42]Not documented
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission[43]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission[43]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5None needed in a normal room[43]None needed in a normal room; Bambu Lab specifically advises ventilation for this grade[26]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningWet sanding — dry sanding heats the surface by friction and smears it[41][29]Sands and stains like timber — the usual reason for choosing it[3]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate for most joints; some grades partially dissolve and bond with acetone[29][44]Not documented
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing — only chloroform, hot benzene or THF, which are laboratory-only[29]Not documented
Support material pairingSupport for PLA (Bambu Lab)[1]Support for PLA (Bambu Lab)[4]
Dimensional accuracy & detail55° overhangs and 30 mm bridges; gloss hides fine detail and is destroyed by sanding[1]Wood grain hides layer lines; colour darkens with nozzle temperature[4][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.[45]Chloroform dissolves the PLA matrix (10 % w/v, 2–4 h at 23 °C) and leaves the filler as loose sludge; laboratory reagent.[45]
Softened or crazed byAcetone, ethyl acetate and toluene plasticise it but dissolve <1 % even at 65 °C; submersion in acetone crazes and destroys parts.[45][46]Acetone, ethyl acetate and toluene plasticise the matrix but dissolve <1 % even at 65 °C; acetone submersion crazes parts.[45][46]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentChloroform vapour smooths and welds PLA at the cost of tensile strength; acetone does not smooth it at all.[47][46]Chloroform vapour attacks only the resin fraction, so the filler is left standing proud; no workshop-safe agent exists.[47][46]

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. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V1.0 — PLA Silk+ Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  2. Safety Data Sheet SDS20250723SA16 — Bambu PLA Wood Bambu Lab · 2025-07 · msds
  3. woodFill technical data sheet colorFabb · 2026-08 · tds
  4. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet — PLA Wood Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  5. FiberWood technical data sheet Fiberlogy · 2026-08 · tds
  6. Panchroma Silk PLA collection Polymaker Shop · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. Spectrum PLA Silk — product listing 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. 3DJake ecoPLA Silk Black 1.75mm 1000g 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. PLA Wood — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. ELEGOO product catalogue ELEGOO · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. PLA+ WOODJet - Natur (1,75 mm; 0,5 kg) Filament PM shop · 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. Printed Solid product catalogue Printed Solid · 2026-08 · vendor
  18. woodFill — product page colorFabb US · 2026-08 · vendor
  19. SUNLU Optimized Wood PLA 3D Printer Filament 1 kg SUNLU · 2026-08 · vendor
  20. Overture Silk PLA 1.75mm Overture3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  21. eSUN PLA-Silk Magic 1.75mm eSUN Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  22. JAYO Silk PLA+ 1.75mm 1.1kg JAYO Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  23. PLA Basic — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  24. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  25. PLA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  26. PLA Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  27. Nozzles — material and compatibility Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  28. Prusament PLA — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  29. PLA — material guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  30. Filament Drying Recommendations Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  31. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  32. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Basic Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  33. 16 PLA brand comparison test — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2022-10 · test
  34. Testing eSun PLA filaments: PLA-ST vs PLA+ vs Silk PLA My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  35. BambuLab PLA Basic vs PLA Tough vs PLA-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  36. PolyTerra PLA vs PLA+ — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  37. Polymaker PLA Pro vs PLA-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  38. Carbon Fiber PLA vs META-PLA vs PLA+ vs PLA by Sunlu — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  39. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  40. PolyLite PLA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  41. Prusament PLA Technical Data Sheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2018-09 · tds
  42. Filamentive PLA (recycled) — product page Filamentive · 2026-08 · vendor
  43. 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
  44. Prusament rPLA Corn Pigment 1kg — product page Prusa Research · 2026-08 · vendor
  45. Solubility Study of Ingeo Biopolymer Grades in Common Organic Solvents (NWPD003) NatureWorks · 2019-10 · tds
  46. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  47. 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