ePLA-LW (Lightweight PLA) is a material specially developed by eSUN for the fields of model airplanes, drones, and cosplay. Compared with wood, ePLA-LW has more stable interlayer bonding, and the foaming rate and strength can be controlled by adjusting the printing temperature.
It uses active foaming technology to achieve lightweight, low-density PLA parts. The foaming volume ratio is 220%, and when printing the same volume model, 1 roll of ePLA-LW can be used as 2.2 rolls of ordinary PLA. Foaming makes the layered pattern almost invisible, and the surface of the printed item is matte and delicate. At around 210-270°C, this material starts to foam during printing, increasing its volume by nearly 1.2 times, and the printing extrusion rate can be reduced to 45% to print lightweight parts.
Under the same model and at the same speed, the use of lightweight PLA enables the model aircraft to have a lighter wing load and a lower stall speed. For models such as airplanes, under the condition of balanced strength, reducing the weight as much as possible can greatly improve the performance of the airplane.
Features:

Precautions:
Physical performance indicators of unfoamed consumables:
|
3D PRINTING FILAMENT |
Test Method |
ePLA-LW |
|
Melt Flow Index(g/10min) |
GB/T 3682-2000 |
8.1(190℃/2.16kg) |
|
Density |
GB/T 1033-86 |
1.2g/cm3 |
|
IZOD Impact Strength(kJ/㎡) |
GB/T 1843-96 |
8.58kJ/㎡ |
|
Tensile Strength(MPa) |
GB/T 1040-92 |
32.2MPa |
|
Elongation at Break(%) |
GB/T 1040-92 |
68.9% |
|
Flexural Strength(MPa) |
GB/T 9341-2000 |
41.31MPa |
|
Flexural Modulus(MPa) |
GB/T 9341-2000 |
1701MPa |
Printing performance indicators comparison:
|
Filament |
Wood |
ePLA-LW |
|
Foaming process |
Foaming during production but not foaming during printing |
No foaming during production, foaming during printing |
|
Interlayer bonding |
Normal |
Strong |
|
Density |
0.7 |
Up to 0.54 |
|
Free adjustment of foaming ratio and strength |
No |
210-270℃ |
Printing parameters:
|
Filament |
ePLA-LW |
|
Recommended printing temperature |
190-270℃ |
|
Unfoamed printing temperature |
190-210℃ |
|
Foam printing temperature |
210-270℃ |
|
Maximum foaming temperature |
270℃ |
|
Maximum foaming rate (270℃) |
122% |
|
Lowest extrusion rate (270℃) |
45% |
|
Bed temperature |
45-60°C/No heating (Masking paper, PVP solid glue, glass board, carbon fiber board, PEI) |
|
Printing speed |
40-80mm/s |
Note: Printing test conditions: nozzle 190-280℃; layer height 0.2mm; bed 45℃; speed 40mm/s
With different temperature foaming ratio:
|
Temperature/℃ |
200 |
210 |
220 |
230 |
240 |
250 |
260 |
270 |
280 |
|
Foaming rate/% |
0 |
0 |
11 |
33 |
82 |
100 |
122 |
122 |
82 |
|
Volume ratio/% |
100 |
100 |
111 |
133 |
182 |
200 |
222 |
222 |
182 |
|
Extrusion rate/% |
100 |
100 |
90 |
75 |
55 |
50 |
45 |
45 |
55 |
|
Density/g/cm3 |
1.2 |
1.2 |
1.08 |
0.9 |
0.66 |
0.6 |
0.54 |
0.54 |
0.66 |
|
speed |
40mm/s |
||||||||

Note: Print test conditions: bottom plate 45℃; speed 40mm/s