West3D is please to introduce another line of filaments to our lineup. Using recyclable cardboard spools to reduce plastic waste, Enviro ABS is a professional grade ABS combined with our proprietary bio-additive technology that delivers a sustainable ABS filament, without compromising material performance. 

 

"In over 400 hours of testing Enviro worked flawlessly. Extremely consistent prints with no failures and no jams, just clean and constant high quality printing. I would recommend Enviro to anyone who prints with ABS. It's environmentally friendly with professionally consistent results."

 

- Martin Gallagher, Digital Scholarship Lab, Florida Institute of Technology.

  

How does Enviro ABS work?

Our bio-additive simply provides a food source for bacteria living in active landfill facilities and commercial composts, but 3d printed parts maintain the strength, pliability, heat resistance, chemical resistance, and post processing capabilities of ABS in every way, enabling a more sustainable 3d printing experience.

 

Enviro ABS meets both ASTM D5338 and ASTM D5511 standards for biodegradability.  

 

ASTM D5338 determines the degree and rate of aerobic biodegradation of plastic materials by measuring a percentage of conversion of carbon in the sample to carbon dioxide. ASTM D5511 measures anerobic biodegradation.

(Average results of combined tests)

 

Enviro ABS:

In independent tests 3d printed parts made with Enviro ABS provide a constant food source for the bacteria in each test vat, and measurements showed steady production of CO2 during the entire 45 day test period.

 

Standard ABS:

In multiple test vats containing 3d printed parts made from pure ABS, measurable CO2 production is primarily a result of the bacteria cannibalizing each other.  Bacteria in these vats isn’t able to convert the carbon in plastics into CO2 very efficiently, but as the bacteria in an area attempts to feed they produce an electrical charge that attracts other bacteria in the vat.  As bacteria discover the plastic is not a viable food source, they then begin feeding on each other.  In every test CO2 production was steady initially, but fell significantly roughly halfway through testing as the bacteria itself was consumed.

 

Key Features on Performance & Sutainability:

 

 

Enviro ABS:

 

• Eco-Friendly ABS made with a proprietary bio-additive
• Professional grade ABS resin
• High impact resistance
• High geometric accuracy
• Very easy to print
• Limited warping
• Excellent visual quality and finish

 

Print Settings:

 

• Set your nozzle temperature between 235°C and 255°C
• Set your print bed temperature between 90°C and 115°C
• Fan speed low to none
• Flowrate 106%

 

Storage: 

Cool and dry (15-25˚C) and away from UV light. This enhances the shelf life significantly.

 

 

Physical Properties:

 

• Specific Gravity: 1.04 g/cc
• Melt Flow Rate (MFR) 220°C/10g: 20g/10 min 
• Elongation Strain at Break: 8%
• Elongation Strain at Yield: 3%
• Young's modulus: 2,300 MPa
• Stress at Yield: 44 MPa
• Stress at Break: 36 MPa
• Impact strength-Charpy 23˚C: 22 kJ/m²
• Vicat Softening Temperature: 96°C

 

 

FAQ:

1. What is an Active Landfill?

 

Active Landfills or Landfill to Energy facilites contain a high concenreation of leachate bacteria that promote decompostion and produce landfill gases like methane that is catpured, refined, and used to produce energy.

 

There are over 3,000 active landfills / landfill to energy facilities in the US, and hundreds of commercial composts.

 

 

 

2. How long will it take for my parts to degrade?

 

This is probably the question we're asked most often, and the answer depends a lot on the overall mass, infill percentage, size, and geometry of any given part. Also the conditions in an active landfill or compost will differ from one location to another.  And bacteria concentrations will even vary within a single facility.  Enviro ABS (or PLA's for that matter) certainly won't degrade the way a banana peel will, but when we extrapolate the ASTM tesing data Enviro ABS delivers a markedly more sustainable material than standard ABS.

 

 

3. Will my parts degrade under normal use conditions?

 

Great question and NO!  The leachate bacteria concentration in active landfills needed to initiate the degradation process is extreme.  Your Enviro ABS parts will stand the test of time until you decide they've reached end of life.

 

Have a question?

 

Made in the USA with 100% virgin resins and precision manufacturing combined to deliver the ultimate in consistent 3d printing for hobbyists to Industry 4.0. Every inch of Enviro ABS is measured to ensure that it is within the strictest standards for quality, diameter, and ovality.

 

Enviro ABS is 750g of filament wound onto a heavy recycled cardboard spool that is biodegradable and bound with a recyclable tin end cap. In fact the entire spool can be tossed directly into your recycling bin!

 

The spool includes both a cutout for viewing filament and dual puncture slots to secure filament when not in use. The flange can even rotate to in either direction to aid in securing the filament wherever it has been cut.

 

The spool was specifically designed for universal fit with most 3d printers in use worldwide and is compatible with Ultimaker printers. Each spool of Enviro ABS is carefully wound to exacting standards to minimizing crossovers and loopbacks that can lead to snags and snaps.

 

In addition, a portion of the proceeds from every spool of Enviro ABS will be donated to plant a tree. Every spool helps rejuvenate iconic forests in key locations throughout the United States.

 

Title	3D Printlife Enviro Eco-Friendly ABS 3D Printer Filament
Manufacturer	3D Printlife
Base Material	ABS
Difficulty	Easy
Nozzle Temperature	235℃ - 255℃
Heated Bed Required?	Yes
Print Bed Temperature	85°C - 115°C
Bed Adhesion	Glass Plate, Tape, Buildtak, PEI Sheet
Enclosure Required?	Recommended
Nozzle Size	≥ 0.15mm
Print Speed	50mm/s
Fan Speed	Low - None
Flow Rate	106%
Retraction	± 5mm
Spool Weight	750g
Drying	No
Minimum Nozzle Temp	235℃
CA Prop 65	Y
Dimensional Accuracy	< +/- 0.05mm
Other Recommendations	HEPA Filter, enclosure, or ventilation
Settings Note:	The settings above are meant as a guide to find your optimal print settings. They should work well for most printers, but every printer is different. Please feel free to experiment outside these ranges if you think it is suitable for your printer.