PLA loaded with real metal powder to densities of 1.85–4.0 g/cm³; prints are heavy, polishable and slow to lay down, and the powder wears brass nozzles.
Open in interactive comparisonDecorative castings and props that are polished or left to patinate; the density gives prints a metallic heft
PLA loaded with real metal powder to densities of 1.85–4.0 g/cm³; prints are heavy, polishable and slow to lay down, and the powder wears brass nozzles.
Real metal-filled PLA is useful when surface finishing and weight are part of the design. Bronze, copper or iron powder can give an object a much heavier feel than ordinary PLA, and polishing exposes metal particles at the surface. This is a material choice for sculpture, decorative hardware and replicas where metallic appearance should extend beyond a coat of paint.
The benefit comes from the filler, while a polymer matrix still holds the object together. It does not turn the print into a metal casting with metal-like heat resistance or structural behavior. Finishing can be substantial work, and the dense filler adds weight as well as nozzle wear. Product names also need checking: a metallic-colored filament is not necessarily a metal-powder composite.
FDM · colorFabb bronzeFill, PLA/PHA with bronze powder · Documented case
colorFabb documents Esteban Pacheco’s 156-part bronzeFill octopus lamp. He selected the material for polishing and an oxidized antique surface; the account also records substantial finishing work and a heavy completed assembly.
FDM · colorFabb bronzeFill, PLA/PHA with bronze powder · Documented case
Andreas Mielonen printed a scaled helmet in bronzeFill on an Ultimaker 2+, then sanded and patinated it. The material supplied a real bronze-containing surface suitable for the intended aged appearance.
Check the model’s material and process notes before choosing a filament.
Representative catalog values. Check the exact grade and its linked conditions before using a setting.
195–220 (colorFabb bronze and copper); 192 (Proto-pasta iron); 198 (Proto-pasta steel); 190–230…
195–220 (colorFabb bronze and copper); 192 (Proto-pasta iron); 198 (Proto-pasta steel); 190–230 (Bambu Lab Sparkle)
50–60 (colorFabb, Proto-pasta); 35–45 (Bambu Lab)
50–60 (colorFabb, Proto-pasta); 35–45 (Bambu Lab)
Open frame is fine
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—Open a topic to explore the complete data. Each value keeps its original conditions, units and dated sources.
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Base polymer / chemistry | PLA 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 | 6 sources
|
| Density (g/cm³) | 1.26 (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 sources
|
| Typical price (USD/kg) | 1 kg spools cluster near 78 | 3 sources
|
| Price range across brands (USD/kg) | 25–95 across brands; Bambu Lab Sparkle 25, Proto-pasta iron 65, colorFabb bronze and copper 84, Proto-pasta steel 95 | 4 sources
|
| Market availability (1–5) | Available from several mainstream brands | 4 sources
|
| Spool sizes & diameters | 1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.1, 0.5, 0.75, 1 and 1.5 kg spools | 2 sources
|
| Typical applications | Decorative castings and props that are polished or left to patinate; the density gives prints a metallic heft | 2 sources
|
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle temperature (°C) | 195–220 (colorFabb bronze and copper); 192 (Proto-pasta iron); 198 (Proto-pasta steel); 190–230 (Bambu Lab Sparkle) | 4 sources
|
| Bed temperature (°C) | 50–60 (colorFabb, Proto-pasta); 35–45 (Bambu Lab) | 3 sources
|
| Enclosure / chamber requirement (1–5) | Open frame is fine | 1 source
|
| Part cooling fan | On (colorFabb copper); 0–100 % (colorFabb bronze) | 2 sources
|
| Bed surface & adhesion aid | Glass plate with glue stick or tape (colorFabb) | 2 sources
|
| Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions) (mm³/s) | 1.6–2.4 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 | 4 sources
|
| Overall printing difficulty (1–5) | Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; brittle in filament form and slow to print | 2 sources
|
| Extruder requirement | Proto-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 | 2 sources
|
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle hardness required (1–4) | Brass acceptable; hardened steel for volume work | 2 sources
|
| Abrasiveness (1–5) | Moderately abrasive — metal fill | 2 sources
|
| Nozzle clog risk (1–5) | Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle | 1 source
|
| Hotend requirement | Proto-pasta recommends a wear-resistant or larger nozzle for longer service intervals | 2 sources
|
| Other hardware wear | Proto-pasta warns of more frequent nozzle replacement and first-layer adjustment | 2 sources
|
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity) (1–5) | Moderate — the PLA matrix takes up 0.40–0.51 % saturated; the metal powder itself does not absorb water | 2 sources
|
| Effect of moisture on strength | 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 | 1 source
|
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength (XY) (MPa) | 25 (colorFabb copper) and 30 (colorFabb bronze), ISO 527-1A; Bambu Lab Sparkle 39 ± 3 printed XY, ISO 527 | 3 sources
|
| Young's modulus (MPa) | 1940 ± 230 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab Sparkle) | 1 source
|
| Elongation at break (%) | 3–10 (colorFabb copper) and 5–10 (colorFabb bronze), ISO 527-1A; 11.7 for Bambu Lab Sparkle printed XY | 3 sources
|
| Flexural strength (MPa) | 75 ± 4 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab Sparkle) | 1 source
|
| Flexural modulus (MPa) | 2350 ± 140 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab Sparkle) | 1 source
|
| Charpy impact, notched (kJ/m²) | 23.2 ± 2.4 printed XY, ISO 179, notched (Bambu Lab Sparkle) | 1 source
|
| Other impact data | Izod 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 | 3 sources
|
| Layer adhesion / Z tensile (MPa) | 32 ± 2 printed Z, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab Sparkle) | 1 source
|
| Brittleness (1–5) | Brittle — Proto-pasta describes both its iron and steel grades as more brittle than standard PLA in filament form | 2 sources
|
| Creep resistance / sustained load (1–5) | Poor — no metal-filled creep test; plain printed PLA sagged from 12 to 16.2–21.8 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg | 3 sources
|
| Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance (1–5) | Poor — 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 | 3 sources |
| Elasticity / flexibility (1–5) | Rigid | 1 source
|
| Z strength as % of XY (%) | 82 by tensile (printed, Bambu Lab Sparkle) | 1 source
|
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| HDT at 0.45 MPa (°C) | 55 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa, Bambu Lab Sparkle) | 1 source
|
| HDT at 1.8 MPa (°C) | 53 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa, Bambu Lab Sparkle) | 1 source
|
| Glass transition (Tg) (°C) | 56 (DSC, Bambu Lab Sparkle) | 1 source
|
| Melting point / Vicat (°C) | 156 peak melt (DSC, Bambu Lab Sparkle) | 1 source
|
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| UV resistance (1–5) | Degrades within weeks outdoors | 1 source
|
| Outdoor durability | Proto-pasta markets its iron grade as rustable — the iron oxidises deliberately when exposed to moisture | 1 source
|
| Electrical & ESD properties | Proto-pasta magnetic iron PLA is ferromagnetic and responds to magnets | 1 source
|
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Fume toxicity (1–5) | Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission | |
| Ventilation / filtration requirement (1–5) | None needed in a normal room |
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Sanding & machining | Polishing is the intended finish — colorFabb and Proto-pasta both sell these grades to be sanded and buffed to a metallic shine | 3 sources
|
| Dimensional accuracy & detail | colorFabb notes the metal fill increases die swell, so flow needs raising above plain PLA | 1 source
|
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Soluble in | Chloroform dissolves the PLA matrix (10 % w/v, 2–4 h at 23 °C) and leaves the filler as loose sludge; laboratory reagent. | 1 source |
| Softened or crazed by | Acetone, ethyl acetate and toluene plasticise the matrix but dissolve <1 % even at 65 °C; acetone submersion crazes parts. | 2 sources
|
| Solvent welding & smoothing agent | Chloroform vapour attacks only the resin fraction, so the filler is left standing proud; no workshop-safe agent exists. | 2 sources |
Values describe representative grades, not every spool. Manufacturer datasheets and independent tests retain their source labels and dates. Printed orientation, test method, conditioning and formulation can change results. Unknown values are —. A listed use is not a certification. Shore A, Shore D and Rockwell hardness are separate scales.
Historical USD/kg snapshots. Read each listing’s sale/from qualifiers, spool mass, source date, shipping and tax notes. Product figures are separate from the material summary.
$24.99 / 1 kg spool, us.store.bambulab.com, Aug 2026
TDS Basic Info: "With metal particles included in its composition, Bambu PLA Sparkle adds a special sparkling look to your prints." The loading is not quantified and the 1.26 g/cm³ density is barely above unfilled PLA, so this is a glitter grade rather than a true metal-filled filament; most of the mechanical row below comes from it.
Open product listing ↗| Density (g/cm³) | 1.26 (ISO 1183) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle temperature (°C) | 190–230 |
|
| Bed temperature (°C) | 35–45 |
|
| Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH (%) | 0.44 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH |
|
| Tensile strength (XY) (MPa) | 39 ± 3 (printed XY, ISO 527) |
|
| Young's modulus (MPa) | 1940 ± 230 (printed XY, ISO 527); Z 1660 |
|
| Elongation at break (%) | 11.7 ± 0.7 (printed XY, ISO 527); Z 6.8 |
|
| Flexural strength (MPa) | 75 ± 4 (printed XY, ISO 178); Z 51 |
|
| Flexural modulus (MPa) | 2350 ± 140 (printed XY, ISO 178); Z 2150 |
|
| Charpy impact, notched (kJ/m²) | 23.2 ± 2.4 (printed XY, ISO 179, notched) |
|
| Other impact data | Charpy unnotched 66.5 kJ/m² XY, 10.3 kJ/m² Z (printed, ISO 179) |
|
| Layer adhesion / Z tensile (MPa) | 32 ± 2 (printed Z, ISO 527) |
|
| Z strength as % of XY (%) | 82 (printed Z 32 vs XY 39, ISO 527) |
|
| HDT at 0.45 MPa (°C) | 55 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa) |
|
| HDT at 1.8 MPa (°C) | 53 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa) |
|
| Glass transition (Tg) (°C) | 56 (DSC) |
|
| Melting point / Vicat (°C) | 156 melting (DSC); Vicat 57 (ISO 306) |
|
$64.99 / 1 kg spool; 500 g $34.99, proto-pasta.com, Aug 2026
Ferromagnetic and deliberately rustable. Density about 1.85 g/cm³, 1.5× standard PLA.
Open product listing ↗| Density (g/cm³) | 1.85 (manufacturer figure) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle temperature (°C) | 192 |
|
| Bed temperature (°C) | 60 |
|
| Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions) (mm³/s) | 1.6–2.4 at the specified 20–30 mm/s, 0.4 mm nozzle, 0.2 mm layer |
|
| Melting point / Vicat (°C) | 155 melting onset |
|
EUR 52.38 incl. tax / 750 g = $75.43/kg at 1.08 USD/EUR, colorfabb.com, Aug 2026
Open product listing ↗| Density (g/cm³) | 3.13 (ISO 1183, raw-material supplier data) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Diameter tolerance (± mm) | ±0.05 max roundness deviation |
|
| Nozzle temperature (°C) | 190–210 |
|
| Bed temperature (°C) | 50–60 |
|
| Tensile strength (XY) (MPa) | 21.1 (printed XY, ISO 527-1A); injection-moulded 23 |
|
| Young's modulus (MPa) | 3310 (printed XY, ISO 527-1A) |
|
| Elongation at break (%) | 2.4 (printed XY, ISO 527-1A) |
|
| Flexural strength (MPa) | 35.2 (printed XY, ISO 178) |
|
| Flexural modulus (MPa) | 3190 (printed XY, ISO 178) |
|
| Charpy impact, notched (kJ/m²) | 2.41 (printed XY, ISO 179, notched) |
|
| Other impact data | Izod notched 4.5 kJ/m² (injection-moulded, ISO 180) |
|
| HDT at 0.45 MPa (°C) | 50 (HDT-B, ISO 75) |
|
$62.97 / 750 g spool = $83.96/kg, colorfabb.us, Aug 2026
Density 4.0 g/cm³.
Open product listing ↗| Density (g/cm³) | 4.0 (ISO 1183) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Diameter tolerance (± mm) | ±0.05 max roundness deviation |
|
| Nozzle temperature (°C) | 195–220 |
|
| Bed temperature (°C) | 50–60 |
|
| Tensile strength (XY) (MPa) | 13.7 (printed XY, ISO 527-1A); injection-moulded 25 |
|
| Young's modulus (MPa) | 2500 (printed XY, ISO 527-1A) |
|
| Elongation at break (%) | 5.9 (printed XY, ISO 527-1A) |
|
| Flexural strength (MPa) | 29.6 (printed XY, ISO 178) |
|
| Flexural modulus (MPa) | 3080 (printed XY, ISO 178) |
|
| Charpy impact, notched (kJ/m²) | 2.97 (printed XY, ISO 179, notched) |
|
| Other impact data | Izod notched 10 kJ/m² (ISO 180) |
|
| HDT at 0.45 MPa (°C) | 49 (HDT-B, ISO 75) |
|
| Glass transition (Tg) (°C) | 55 (manufacturer figure) |
|
$62.97 / 750 g spool = $83.96/kg, colorfabb.us, Aug 2026
Density 3.9 g/cm³. The EU store lists EUR 53.83 for the same 750 g spool.
Open product listing ↗| Density (g/cm³) | 3.9 (ISO 1183) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Diameter tolerance (± mm) | ±0.05 max roundness deviation |
|
| Nozzle temperature (°C) | 195–220 |
|
| Bed temperature (°C) | 50–60 |
|
| Tensile strength (XY) (MPa) | 20.3 (printed XY, ISO 527-1A); injection-moulded 30 |
|
| Young's modulus (MPa) | 4730 (printed XY, ISO 527-1A) |
|
| Elongation at break (%) | 6.1 (printed XY, ISO 527-1A) |
|
| Flexural strength (MPa) | 42.0 (printed XY, ISO 178) |
|
| Flexural modulus (MPa) | 5070 (printed XY, ISO 178) |
|
| Charpy impact, notched (kJ/m²) | 2.84 (printed XY, ISO 179, notched) |
|
| Other impact data | Izod notched 4.5 kJ/m² (ISO 180) |
|
| HDT at 0.45 MPa (°C) | 48 (HDT-B, ISO 75) |
|
$94.99 / 1 kg spool; 500 g $49.99, proto-pasta.com, Aug 2026
Density about 2.3 g/cm³, twice standard PLA.
Open product listing ↗| Density (g/cm³) | 2.3 (manufacturer figure) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle temperature (°C) | 198 |
|
| Bed temperature (°C) | 60 |
|
| Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions) (mm³/s) | 2–3 (manufacturer profile, 0.65 mm extrusion width) |
|
| Melting point / Vicat (°C) | 155 melting onset |
|
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