Why PVA is the Game-Changer in 3D Printing Support Materials

As the 3D printing technology is developing, so is the market for various materials to print with. There are many 3D printing materials available to choose from but each one of them has some specific quality.  In this article, we will be talking about one such material – PVA. You will learn all you need to know about it and how it is different from all other materials for 3D Printing services. 

What is PVA?

PVA, or Polyvinyl Alcohol, is a synthetic, soft, and biodegradable polymer formed by polymerizing vinyl acetate, which is then hydrolyzed to create PVA filament for online 3D printing services.  It is commonly known for its water-solubility and excellent adhesive properties. It is translucent white in appearance and resistant to oil, grease, and other solvents. It has high tensile strength and flexibility.  Due to its water-soluble nature, it is often used as a support structure to achieve complex geometries in intricate 3D prints at a good 3D Printing quote.

General Properties of PVA Material

PVA’s full form is Polyvinyl Alcohol. It is a soft and biodegradable polymer that is extremely sensitive to moisture. A special property of PVA is that, when the material is exposed to water, it actually dissolves and because of this reason PVA is utilized for making water-soluble support structures. The material is especially used when making parts with complex geometries, the ones with enclosed cavities at 3D Printing companies. PVA filament is made from a synthetic polymer created by polymerizing vinyl acetate that is then hydrolyzed into PVA. It has a translucent white appearance that is resistant to oil, grease as well as solvents. The filament possesses excellent adhesive properties and high tensile strength with flexibility to 3D Print online. Note that, do not confuse PVA with PVAc i.e., polyvinyl acetate – a water-soluble white glue. PVA material is colorless, and odorless synthetic polymer that has impressive biocompatibility. It has lower toxicity compared to other materials used for making filaments in 3D Printing services in India.

What are the pros and cons of PVA?

Pros of PVA : 

1.     Great water-solubility
2.     High tensile strength
3.     Easy to print
4.     Odorless, non-toxic & biodegradable
5.     Good for supporting complex prints

Cons of PVA : 

1.     Hygroscopic (absorbs moisture from the air)
2.     Storage in air-tight containers required
3.     Prone to clogging while extrusion
4.     Expensive
5.     Requires adequate disposal

How to 3D Print with PVA?

Like every other material, certain conditions need to be kept in mind while 3D printing with PVA. Due to its usage as a support material, it is usually developed for dual extrusion prints for 3D Printing services in India.   Temperature: Depending on the brand of PVA filament that you are using, the extruder temperature varies between 200- 250°C. A build plate temperature of 60°C is required if you’re using PVA as a single material. However, if it is printed as a support material, simply use the build plate temperature required for the accompanying material while 3D Printing online.  Adhesion: PVA can adhere well to the heated glass plate by itself depending upon the brand but sometimes a thin layer of glue might be required. For dual-extrusion prints, the adhesion method might differ based on the accompanying build material in 3D Printing Bangalore. Print Environment: No additional hardware is required to create a stable printing environment while printing only with PVA. However, while using another build material with it, an enclosure might be required depending on the material.  It is also important to remember that PVA is a hygroscopic material. This means that it absorbs moisture from the environment. Therefore, it should be kept dry at all costs for the best printing results. For this, you should store your PVA filament in a sealed container with silica beads to reduce moisture.  Also, PVA printed parts need to be kept in water for a few hours (depending on the brand) until there’s no undissolved material left while 3D Printing in Bangalore.

What are the tips and tricks for successful PVA 3D Printing?

• Always keep the filament dry 

It is PVA’s job to dissolve in water. Unfortunately, it doesn’t know the difference between water that we need it to dissolve in and moisture in the air. That is why it’s important to store it correctly. PVA should be stored in a dry and cool place, away from moisture as well as sunlight. An easy option is storing it in an airtight container with a desiccant for online 3D Printing India. 

•  Brims should be made of PVA 

PVA is good adhesive but only when it is allowed to stick to itself. That is why you should make the brims used to support your model while printing from PVA and not the model material. 

•  Regularly cleaning the nozzle or hot end

PVA tends to ooze and carbonize more easily than other filaments. It can clog or jam the nozzle more frequently. Therefore it is important to clean your 3D printer’s nozzle/print core when using PVA for 3D Printing in India.  Another hack is to use an ooze shield while using PVA as a support material for PLA prints. This will prime the PVA extruder after every tool change and it will be ready to print at the start of the layer. Moreover, the shield will prevent the plastic deposits from reaching your part by catching any oozing from both nozzles. You can remove and discard the ooze shield after the printing process is done for your 3D Printing service in India. 

• Speed up dissolving time 

The time required for PVA to dissolve completely is typically between 12-18 hours, but this varies depending on the brand of PVA you’re using. However, if patience is not your strong suit, you can reduce this time by several ways for affordable 3D Printing services. 

• Removing the extra material manually before placing it in water. This includes the large pieces that can be broken off using pliers. But be very careful while doing this and don’t damage your precious model! 
• Using hot water – If the temperature of the water is higher than the room temperature, PVA will dissolve faster. But be careful not to heat it to a very high temperature if you’ve used materials like PLA in your model. You can use a heater for this or change the cool water again with warm water. 
• Stirring the water: PVA will dissolve faster if you keep the water moving. This can be done by using a pump or an ultrasonic tank while 3D Printing Mumbai. 
• In multi – extruder setups, you can cool down the PVA hot end when it is not in use. This will prevent oozing and clogging. 

• For a better finish, set the support upper separation distance to zero layers. It doesn’t matter if PVA adheres to the part while printing because it will be dissolved away.

How is PVA used in 3D Printing?

PVA is commonly used to make : 

• Decorative parts
• Quick prototypes
• Removable supports or rafts
• Support material for complex prints

Is PVA Compatible with FDM 3D Printers?

PVA is very much preferred as a support material. Mostly, support materials are utilized with multi-extruder hosting FDM 3D printers. It is to note that generally FDM printers are known to have only one extruder in which the printed part, as well as support structures, are to be created using the same material for 3D Printing services Mumbai. In such printers, it becomes a difficult task to remove the supports after 3D printing Chennai, and also, they leave ugly marks when taken away from the part. On the other hand, dual extrusion FDM 3D printers permit the use of various materials for parts and supports, which is exactly where PVA material is extremely useful. Because PVA filament easily dissolves in water, so if you print support structures using PVA, they can be easily removed by simply keeping the printed part in water. Not only does doing so makes easy removal of support possible, but also decreases the need for post-processing processes such as sanding and painting. Specifically, PVA is known to work extremely well with PLA filaments as it uses similar printing conditions including temperature. The latter is a hydrophobic material, therefore if a part is printed using it with supports made from PVA, the supports will dissolve in water leaving the part in an ideal condition. After going through the basics of PVA 3D printing Chennai with FDM 3D printers, it’s time now to explore those points that you need to take into account while PVA 3D printing in Chennai. So, let’s get started.

Who Makes The Best PVA Filament?

After looking at PVA’s advantages and disadvantages, let’s look at some of the best PVA filaments available in the market.

1. MatterHackers: Offering 0.5 and 1 kg spool, MatterHackers PVA is available in two diameters i.e., 1.75 mm and 2.85 mm. Its filament does not require a heating bed and dissolves in water naturally. It requires a nozzle temperature range of 175 to 200 degrees Celsius.
2. eSUN: Available in 500 grams spool, eSUN PVA recommends a nozzle temperature ranging between 190 to 200 degrees Celsius and a bed temperature ranging between 60 to 80 degrees Celsius.
3. Ultimaker: Claiming that its filament is the most eccentric one in the market, Ultimaker designs its PVA to work with Nylon as well as CPE filaments. The Dutch manufacturer’s PVA filament is 100 percent biodegradable. It’s also less sensitive to moisture than other PVA filament brands. Ultimaker PVA requires a nozzle temperature and bed temperature ranging between 215 to 255 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Celsius respectively.
4. Gizmo Dorks: Providing 1.75 as well as 2.85 mm PVA in a 500-gram spool, Gizmo Dorks makes its filament available in Natural color. It requires a nozzle temperature ranging from 160 to 190 degrees Celsius. Whereas the filament needs a bed temperature of 60 degrees Celsius.
5. SainSmart: Sainsmart’s PVA is the cheapest among the mentioned five. Its filament requires a nozzle temperature ranging from 160 to 180 degrees Celsius. The filament is available in 1.75 mm diameter weighing 500 grams.

Conclusion

If you have access to a dual- or multi-extruder FDM 3D printer, PVA is a great solution for your 3D Printing services in Chennai to substitute difficult support removal. It is the best filament if you want to make detailed, clean, and high-quality models.  If you decide to work with PVA, be sure to use it in the right way keeping all the tips explained earlier in mind. You’re sure to succeed and come up with the best 3D print. 

Read More: The Titans of Fabrication: Titanium vs Aluminum in 3D Printing