This was an ornament I printed roughly 6 years ago. Being a Christmas ornament it spent most of those 6 years stored in my roof space.

Being in Australia this would have been subject to average temperatures of 30 to 35 degrees c but also peaks across summer approaching 70 degrees c. Also in high humidity.

The PLA crumbles into tiny pieces at the softest touch.

I thought it was interesting that PLA would start to break down in these conditions.

  • Cyrus Draegur@lemm.eeEnglish
    01·
    2 months ago

    it’s a starch-based polymer, isn’t it? it will be readily metabolized by the various ubiquitous species populating our biosphere. i suppose it’s a good thing. possibly the only microplastic that doesn’t suck

    • ExcessShiv@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      2·
      2 months ago

      it will be readily metabolized by the various ubiquitous species populating our biosphere. i suppose it’s a good thing. possibly the only microplastic that doesn’t suck

      Not really, it is considered compostable in industrial composting conditions. It will not degrade at a reasonable timeframe in natural conditions and will basically just remain micro plastic.

      • unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
        1·
        2 months ago

        yep sadly PLA being ok for the environment is a big ol myth unless it is either turned back into filament or properly recycled / industrially composted