{"id":3737,"date":"2022-01-02T18:14:28","date_gmt":"2022-01-02T18:14:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/printermaterials.com\/?p=3737"},"modified":"2023-01-15T02:55:09","modified_gmt":"2023-01-15T02:55:09","slug":"best-antimicrobial-filament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/printermaterials.com\/best-antimicrobial-filament\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Antimicrobial Filament: Antibacterial Filament Buyer’s Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Antimicrobial filaments solve one of the major problems with regular filaments like PLA, ABS, and PETG: they can’t be completely sterilized. That means that most filaments are not useful for medical applications. Even printing kitchen items is an iffy prospect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem is this: as thermoplastics cool and harden, microscopic holes and cracks form on the surface. These tiny nooks and crannies are perfect hiding spots for germs and allergens. Cleaning agents can’t get into these holes because of surface tension: on a microscopic level, surface tension acts as a barrier that prevents liquids from flowing freely into tiny openings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Can you sterilize 3D printed objects by heating them?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yes! The only way to truly sterilize a 3D printed object is to heat it up. But, of course, if you heat a thermoplastic too much, it deforms and loses its shape. That being said, you can heat regular filaments up to high enough temperatures to sterilize them without melting them, at least a few times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, PLA has a melt temperature of 190 degrees Celcius, but you only need to heat an object up to 121 degrees Celcius (250 F) to sterilize it (this is the temperature that autoclaves in science labs use to sterilize lab equipment). There might be some minor deformations of the shape, but probably not. The problem is that many plastics become brittle after heating them up a few times, so you might only be able to get a few uses out of them before they fall apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Note: you need to heat objects up to 121 degrees C and keep them that hot for at least 20 minutes to properly sterilize them, because, believe it or not, some pathogens can survive at that temperature for a while.)<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has so far remained somewhat aloof on the topic, but they have approved specific filaments here and there. However, many authoritative voices across disciplines and institutions have recommended avoiding using 3D printed objects in the kitchen. They are not technically “food safe” because of the difficulty of sterilizing those little nooks and crannies where germs can hide. The same is true for children’s toys: technically, 3D printed objects harbor germs that could pose health risks for kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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That has not stopped people from giving their toddlers 3D printed toys or making 3D printed cups and bowls, though. Will these objects make you ill if you eat out of them? Probably not. After all, you can clean them with soap or some other disinfectant and remove the vast majority of pathogens from their surfaces. But those little holes are harder to get to with traditional cleaning agents, so exercise caution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scientists who use 3D printers in laboratories run into this problem of sterilization sometimes. After all, scientists use highly specialized objects, sometimes only once and for one specific application. So it is handy to be able to quickly print out these designs in the lab on the fly as the need arises. For experiments that demand sterilization, for instance in microbiology labs and medical labs, objects made out of regular thermoplastic filaments can often be used if they can be autoclaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Food Safe Coatings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
One alternative to antimicrobial filaments that is worth considering is applying a coating to finished prints that is food safe. The FDA has approved the use of certain polymeric coatings,<\/a> but use these at your own risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea here is to encapsulate 3D printed objects in a coating that is food safe so that you don’t have to worry about the nooks that printed objects have. These coatings are widely used, so search around on forums for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Antimicrobial Filaments Sterilize Themselves<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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That’s where antimicrobial filaments come in. These filaments have additives that are naturally toxic to microbes (but not to humans). For example, copper is naturally toxic to microbes, and filaments that contain copper will make those microscopic nooks and crannies inhospitable places for germs and other pathogens to hide in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Does that mean that you can use any copper filament? No. You need to make sure you pick up specifically designed antimicrobial copper filaments that have the necessary proportion of copper fill added to them, and the copper additive has to be the right type of copper and the particles have to be the correct size. After all, copper fill particles that are relatively large could leave gaps between them where germs can hide in the plastic substrate. Think of it as the difference between boulders and sand: it’s easier to hide between two boulders than between two grains of sand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That’s why antimicrobial filament manufacturers like Copper3D<\/a> use a patented nano-copper additive. Their filaments are FDA approved for use in medical contexts and other contexts where sterilization is paramount. Check out this screenshot from their website (they call their patented material PLACTIVE):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Copper is not the only additive that gives antibacterial properties to filaments. XYZprinting<\/a> sells a filament that makes use of a silver additive to achieve a similar result. Silver is also toxic to microbes like bacteria and fungi. By mixing it into their filament, they have been able to produce a filament that can effectively be used in applications that require sterility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
XYZprinting has a mixed reputation as a company, and this filament is not FDA approved, so use it with caution. But it is an option worth checking out, especially when other microbial filaments are out of stock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Antimicrobial filaments vs. Antibacterial filaments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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You may have noticed that copper3D filament is called “antimicrobial” filament, whereas Xyzprinting filament is called “antibacterial” filament. These terms are often used interchangeably, which is confusing. But it is an important distinction and it’s worth understanding the difference before making a purchase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Antimicrobial filaments are toxic to a wide range of organisms including fungi, viruses, bacteria, and protozoans. These are all different types of microscopic critters that can cause illnesses, so if you want the most protection from a filament, go with filaments that specifically list themselves as having “antimicrobial” properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Antibacterial filaments, on the other hand, are specifically designed to repel and destroy bacteria. Bacteria are everywhere and on almost every surface. Very few objects have no bacteria on them. The benefit of these antimicrobial filaments is that they can keep bacteria that would usually contaminate objects clean and free from bacteria specifically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That hasn’t stopped filament companies from using these terms inaccurately, however. Even Copper3D, which has secured FDA approval misuses the term antibacterial on their website:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 Woops!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Does this matter that much? Generally speaking: no, not really. And again, these terms are used interchangeably in a range of medical and research contexts. But if you are looking for filaments for specific applications that require different types of sterilization, it could matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Best Antimicrobial And Antibacterial Filaments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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1. Copper3D Antimicrobial PLACTIVE Filament – FDA Approved<\/h3>\n\n\n
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<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>(5\/5)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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