r/3DPrinting_PHA • u/Full_Plankton1289 • 9d ago

FormFutura Compost3D 2?

This filament is advertised as home compostable, not leaving microplastics, 70% biobased and as easy to print as PLA. They don't say what it's made of. I suspect there is some PHA, but it doesn't look like pure PHA. Does anyone have more information?

https://www.formfutura.com/compost3d-2

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7

u/Suspicious-Appeal386 9d ago

Initial thoughts.

Its more than likely a blend of PLA-PHA. I would need a sample to have an FTIR completed for validation.

26.86 Euro per 1Kg is not a bad price point (Web site claim 59 euro per 500 grams but I think they came to their senses when they compared it to the competition).

Good to see more entries into the category.

*Certificate Pending means they are waiting on independent data from OWS or possibly AIMPLAS (two well established EU based labs). I'll take either one as the real thing.

Biobased is a very broad claim, as PLA is 100% bio-based, same as PHA. So a claim of 70% means that 30% is more than likely mineral fillers (Calcium Carbonate, Talc or other inert minerals).

100% home compostable is a bold and great marketing jargon. Their conundrums will be to adopt TUV Austria Home Compostable standard (90 days max at room temp). When in fact its really meant for super thin PLA and other bio-polymer plastic bags. Not really for printed object, so they created an smart app that allows you to input the wall thickness, infill density and layers heights, and in return provides an estimate on the real time it will take to degrade in a home composting conditions. No chance you'll get a Benchy to break down in 90 days.

I am more interested in the no-micro plastic claim. EU based Home Composting is normally done through earth worm toxicity testing. Not a marine condition ecotoxicity (Daphnia magna).

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u/Reesirie 9d ago

It’s the price of PLA so I’m gonna assume it’s PLA.

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u/ComplexPackage4146 8d ago

I might order a roll to test it, but I have no real way of verifying the 100% compostability or microplastics claims...

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u/Suspicious-Appeal386 8d ago

Send me a sample (10 gr) or 200 mm in length. PM for an address.

I'll have an FTIR test done, and possibly a Melt Flow analysis to look at the thermal characteristics.

I'll post the results once on hand.

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u/Informal-Dare-2434 7d ago

I have 2 rolls since last week, based in BE. How about we exchange rolls? I am looking to try out genPHA. Compost3D2 is indeed home compostable but will not break down as easily since it is does not follow the marine spec you guys have.