Panchroma Matte Sky Blue – Polymaker
PolyTerra™ PLA is our best-selling matt PLA filament, naturally sourced and available in a wide range of colours.
- Polymaker PLA matt formula with smooth matt surface
- Optimized for easier deburring and easier sanding compared to regular PLA.
- Excellent compatibility with printers with good fluidity, suitable for high speed.
- Jam-free™ technology improves compatibility with all-metal heaters.
- Consistent color and tolerance(1.75 mm diameter +/- 0.03 mm)
- 1kg
- This spool is suitable for the A1/X1 AMS system.
In 2025, PolyTerra PLA™ will be rebranded and become Panchroma™ Matte PLA.
PolyTerra™ PLA is a matte surface PLA-based 3D printing filament with a huge range of colors and effects to choose from. It is a sustainably sourced formula designed to be easy to print with great bonding and overhang capabilities. It can print over a very wide temperature window and is compatible with most extrusion-based 3D printers.
Features
- Frosted Surface and Fun Colors – Print parts with a beautiful frosted surface and unleash your imagination with the fun and vibrant color range of PolyTerra™ PLA. PolyTerra™ PLA renders patterns with excellent surface quality and features great blendability and repositionability.
- Optimized for spores – PolyTerra™ PLA is designed with excellent spores removal properties, allowing users to more easily remove spores from the surface of their parts.
- Easy sanding – PolyTerra™ PLA is softer and easier to sand than conventional PLA filaments and can be easily painted.
- High-speed printing capability – Polymaker have developed the base formulation of PolyTerra™ PLA with ideal flow properties to provide a filament that is capable of high-speed printing (with appropriate hardware only).
- Bioplastic Mat PLA Formula – PolyTerra™ PLA is based on a newly developed material from Polymaker called FBC (Fully Bio Compound). It is a compound of high quality Ingeo PLA supplemented with naturally occurring elements. The result is a PLA filament with less plastic content that feels softer and more elastic/less brittle on the reel. Polymakers FBC formula contains less PLA plastic to degrade, which improves the rate of degradation under specific industrial conditions. Like other PLAs, the degradation rate is still very slow at ambient temperatures.
- Ductility (X-Y ) – PolyTerra™ PLA is softer than conventional PLA, providing better ductility along the horizontal X-Y axis compared to standard PLA formulations. While a test strip of standard PLA will break in bending, PolyTerra™ PLA will tend to gradually bend and break along the horizontal axis.
- Improved ductility – PolyTerra™ PLA provides improved ductility that is less brittle (Charpy Impact) along the X-Y axis compared to standard PLA formulations.
- Compatibility / Jam-Free™ – PolyTerra™ PLA is compatible with a wide range of 3D printers and is manufactured using Polymakers Jam-Free™ technology, which results in excellent print quality with zero risk of nozzle clogging caused by thermal creep. PolyTerra™ PLA works well on many print surfaces with a thin layer of adhesive applied, no bed heating is required but can be used at 40 – 50°C for better results (60°C maximum).
- Uncompromising quality – PolyTerra™ PLA filament is manufactured with the highest quality ingredients, including Ingeo® from Natureworks; a high quality PLA material made from rapidly renewable plant resources in the USA. Combining Polymakers’ innovative R&D technologies, blending and extrusion systems with Natureworks’ Ingeo® resins yields a reliable 3D printing filament that prints beautiful and accurate patterns.
Thermal creep is the process of heat spreading unevenly throughout a hotend, a common example being in all metal hotend designs. Once the heat creeps to the cold end, the PLA filament softens prematurely at the cold end and expands, causing a jam. Polymakers’ Jam-Free™ technology increases the heat resistance of the filament itself (not the printed part) up to 100˚C, which prevents the filament from softening prematurely at the cold end and can still melt quickly once it enters the heating zone.
Sample print settings
| Nozzle temperature | 190°C – 230°C |
|---|---|
| Pad temperature | 25°C – 60°C*
*You may find that lower bed temperatures (e.g. 45°C) work better with PolyTerra™ PLA compared to higher temperatures. |
| Substrate material | Compatible with most common pad types. |
| Treatment of the substrate | Apply a thin layer of EcoFixy , PVA or PVP adhesive. |
| Cooling fan | ON |
| Print speed | 30 mm/s – 70 mm/s |
| Retraction | Ideal settings for retraction vary from printer to printer. If you find that your retraction settings are causing gaps in your workpiece, the following settings may help. Direct Drive: 0.5 – 1 mm retraction distance at 20 mm/s Bowden: 2 – 3 mm retraction distance at 20 – 40 mm/s retraction speed |
| Recommended support material | Single extrusion:
Self-support Double extrusion: PolyDissolve™ S1 (dissolves in tap water) PolySupport™ (easily disassembled support material) |
Based on a 0.4 mm nozzle. Printing conditions may vary between printers and nozzle diameters.
To produce flatter and more accurately sized parts, PolyTerra™ PLA may work best on your printer with lower bed temperatures (i.e. 45 – 50°C ) compared to higher bed temperatures.
Specifications
| Net weight: | 1kg |
|---|---|
| Type of material: | Matte PLA (Fully bio compound) |
| Density: | 1.31 g/cm3 |
| Diameter tolerance: | 99% probability +/- 0.03mm 98% probability +/- 0.02mm |
Compatibility
All plastics are hygroscopic, meaning they absorb moisture from the air, which can affect the print quality and strength of printed parts. How quickly this absorption occurs depends on the material and the environment. Polymakers PolyTerra™ PLA fibers are dried and packaged in a vacuum bag with desiccant to ensure the best print quality. When not in use, PolyTerra™ PLA should be stored away from sunlight and sealed in the packaged resealable bag.
Although the strands can be dried, drying will accelerate the aging process of the plastic, making it more brittle over time. Preventing moisture from being absorbed by the filament in the first place is the best solution to keep your filament working to its maximum potential. For long-term storage, we highly recommend storing in a sealed container with a desiccant dryer that reduces relative humidity to 10-20% RH.
At our facility, we run our filaments with Polymakers’ PolyDryer™ or other filament dryer , which offer best-in-class sealing to protect the filaments from absorbing moisture.
If you hear popping sounds and notice that the surface quality of your print is uneven or the color is not consistent, this is a likely indicator that the filament has absorbed too much moisture. PolyTerra™ PLA spools can be dried with Polymaker PolyDryer™ using power level 1. Alternatively, if you have a convection oven that is accurate at low temperatures, users can dry the filament in a pre-heated convection oven at 55˚C for up to 6 hours. Results may vary depending on the accuracy of your oven, so please use caution.
Technical data
All test specimens were printed under the following conditions: Nozzle temperature = 200˚C, build plate temperature = 60˚C, leachate = 100%, cooling fan = on.
All specimens were conditioned at room temperature for 24 hours prior to testing.
Thermal properties
| Value | Method of testing |
|
| Glass transition: | 60.6°C | DSC, 10°C/min |
| Heat deflection temperature: | 0.45 MPa – 57.8°C 1.8 MPa – 52°CHDTCurve |
ISO 75 0.45MPa |
| Vicat softening temperature | 62.7°C | ISO 306, GB/T 1633 |
Mechanical properties
| Value | Method of testing |
|
| Jung’s module (X-Y) |
1882 ± 141 MPa | ISO 527, GB/T 1040 |
| Tensile strength (X-Y) |
20.9 ± 2.0 MPa | ISO 527, GB/T 1040 |
| Bending force (X-Y) |
39.6 ± 1.1 MPa | ISO 178, GB/T 9341 |
| Sharpey impact strength (X-Y) |
5.7 ± 0.4 kJ/m2 | ISO 179, GB/T 9343 |
The typical values presented in the Polymaker data sheet are for reference and comparison only. Due to the nature of 3D printing, they should not be used for design specification or quality control purposes.
Storage and drying
Like other PLA filaments, PolyTerra™ PLA is susceptible to absorbing moisture from the air, which can subsequently affect the print quality and mechanical properties of the final prints.
Although filaments can be dried, drying will accelerate the aging process of the plastic, making it more brittle over time. Preventing moisture from being absorbed by the filament in the first place is the best solution to keep your filament working to its maximum potential. For long-term storage, we highly recommend storing in a sealed container with a desiccant dryer that reduces relative humidity to 10-20% RH.
At our facility, we run our filaments with Polymakers PolyDryer™ or other filament dryers , which offer best-in-class sealing to keep filaments from absorbing moisture.
If you hear popping sounds and notice that the surface quality of your print is uneven or the color is not consistent, this is a likely indicator that the filament has absorbed too much moisture. PolyTerra™ PLA spools can be dried with Polymaker PolyDryer™ using power level 1. Alternatively, if you have a convection oven that is accurate at low temperatures, users can dry the filament in a pre-heated convection oven at 55˚C for up to 6 hours. Results may vary depending on the accuracy of your oven, so please use caution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does Jam-Free™ technology prevent any nozzle clogging?
A: Jam-Free™ technology is designed to prevent clogging caused by thermal creep. There are many reasons why a material can clog, such as printing at the wrong extruder temperature or the wrong nozzle height; Polymaker’s Jam-Free™ technology will not prevent clogging in these cases.
Q: Is PolyTerra™️ PLA safe for food?
Answer: PolyTerra™️ Polymaker’s PLA complies with RoHS Directives 2011/65/EU and (EU) 2015/863 and the REACH regulation, meaning it does not contain any toxic or harmful listed substances. However, due to the nature of FDM 3D printing, printed PolyTerra™️ PLA parts may have micro cracks and holes that are invisible to the naked eye, even though the prints appear smooth. Bacteria tend to grow in these micro cracks and holes, and so we do not recommend using 3D printed parts in applications that are in contact with food.
Q: How long does it take to degrade PolyTerra™️ PLA?
Answer: PolyTerra™️ PLA degrades under the specific conditions of industrial composting, namely at a certain temperature and humidity with the presence of micro-organisms. The rate of degradation depends on the size and thickness of the printed part. Polymaker conducted a compostability test, certified to ISO 14855-1, with a third-party laboratory which showed that PolyTerra™️ PLA degraded faster than comparable PLA material. The test was completed by placing small pellets of PolyTerra™️ PLA in 2-4 month old plant compost (incorporating a wide variety of microorganisms) and heating the system to 60˚C. During this process, the PolyTerra™️ PLA will begin to break down into carbon dioxide, water, and mineral salts, and the aforementioned elements are monitored to calculate the mass of PolyTerra™️ PLA degraded. After 45 days, 93.6% of the PolyTerra™️ PLA is degraded, and Polymakers estimates that complete degradation of PolyTerra™️ PLA can take less than 100 days. Polymaker conducted the exact same test with their PolyLite™️ PLA, which is pure ordinary PLA, and after 45 days 79.9% of it degraded. Which means that PolyTerra™️ PLA degrades up to 15% faster than regular PLA.
Q: What auxiliary materials can I use with this product?
A: PolyTerra™ PLA has been developed with excellent de-support properties, allowing users to more easily tear off de-supports printed in PolyTerra™ PLA. PolyDissolve™ S1 or Polymaker’s PolySupport™ are the recommended support filaments for PolyTerra™ PLA if your machine can print with multiple materials simultaneously. If your 3D printer is not equipped to handle multiple materials, self-support can be used.
Q: Do I need to rewind this thread if I want to use it with another spool?
A: We strongly advise you not to manipulate the product by rewinding. All Polymaker filaments are wound with tension but without strain. Rewinding completely rearranges the curvature of the coil and this tension over time can cause most plastics to catastrophically break. If for some reason your printer is blocked from mounting smaller than standard size spools, there may be safe print adapters or external mounting solutions available.
Don’t know where to start? Or which thread would be right for your application? We have a wide range of support options, including phone support. Contact us today!
Applications
With its bargain price and wide color range, PolyTerra™ PLA has quickly become one of our best-selling PLA filaments, especially among hobbyists and educators who love to print with PLA but are looking for a more sustainable filament.
Offering a new type of PLA filament, PolyTerra™ PLA is a popular choice for printing with matte PLA:
- Trinkets and figurines.
- Homeware and desk organizers.
- Non-standard fashion accessories.
- Replicas of props and exhibits.
- Low budget cosplay items.
- Medium and large tabletop buildings and backdrops.
- Different patterns, which are usually difficult to remove the report from. (Not ideal for particularly thin or delicate items that may break when removing the report)
- Architectural models and educational models.
PolyTerra™ PLA is also being embraced outside the education and consumer markets as a more sustainable alternative for a variety of concept, design and prototyping applications. As we become more conscious and mindful of our own consumption habits, many small businesses are looking for ways to become more ethical and improve the sustainability of their products. Although the final 3D printed product is inevitably plastic, PolyTerra™ PLA reduces plastic consumption with the Polymakers FBC formula, a cardboard spool and a step forward to sustainable packaging.
Compared to conventional PLA materials, PolyTerra™ PLA is softer, less brittle and more elastic along the X-Y axis. Ductility describes the way a material breaks, if you bend the strand in your hands, the ductile material is more likely to bend gradually compared to the brittle material which will suddenly break. Although PolyTerra™ PLA is not intended to be a high strength material, its ductility can offer advantages for quite a few end use applications.
Compared to PLA and PLA+ materials such as PolyLite™ PLA and PolyLite™ PLA Pro; PolyTerra™ PLA exhibits superior spore removal properties, allowing users to more easily peel spore from the surface of their prints. Combined with great sanding and painting compatibility, PolyTerra™ PLA has become a popular choice for printing relatively large scale tabletop models and cosplay figures. This ease of support tear-off correlates with lower interlayer strength along the z-axis, so extra care may be required when working with thin or delicate items that are printed vertically. If Polymakers FBC’s formula stability and strength are more important than support removal, we recommend considering PolyTerra PLA+, which is a strength-optimized version of Polymakers FBC’s formula that prioritizes layer bonding over support removal.
For applications that require PLA with particularly high mechanical properties, we recommend comparing PolyLite™ PLA (PLA), PolyLite™ PLA Pro (PLA+), which offer higher tensile strength, stiffness and interlaminar adhesion than PolyTerra™ PLA or PolyTerra™ PLA+. If a multi-material printer is available, a support removal process comparable to PolyTerra™ PLA can be achieved by printing these PolyLite™ PLA and PLA Pro materials with a special support material, such as PolySupport™, that is designed to be easily removed from the model by hand.
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