Materials › Silk PLA
Silk PLA – Properties, Temperatures & Tips
All key properties, print settings, pros and cons and matching filaments at a glance.
Properties & print settings
- Nozzle (°C)
- 190–230
- Bed (°C)
- 25–65
- Heat resistance HDT (°C)
- approx. 65 (Vicat)
- Tensile strength (MPa)
- approx. 41
- Density (g/cm³)
- approx. 1.24
- Drying
- 55 °C, 6–8 h
- Difficulty
- very easy
No enclosure needed
What is Silk PLA used for?
Vases, decor, figures, gifts – anything that should shine
+ Pros
Metallic silky shine, hides layer lines well
– Cons
Often weaker layer bonding, overhangs harder; follow manufacturer temperature
Printing tips at a glance
- Nozzle temperature: 190–230 °C – start in the middle of the range on a new spool and fine-tune with a temperature tower.
- Bed temperature: 25–65 °C.
- An enclosure is not needed, but avoid drafts.
- Drying: 55 °C, 6–8 h. Wet filament shows up as crackling, stringing and rough surfaces.
Compare similar materials
| Material | Difficulty | Nozzle (°C) | Bed (°C) | Heat resistance HDT (°C) | Tensile strength (MPa) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silk PLA | 1/5 | 190–230 | 25–65 | approx. 65 (Vicat) | approx. 41 |
| PLA | 1/5 | 190–230 | 25–65 | 55–60 | 40–52 |
| Matte PLA | 1/5 | 190–230 | 25–65 | approx. 62 (Vicat) | approx. 23 |
| PLA+ / PLA Pro / Tough PLA | 1/5 | 190–230 | 25–65 | 55–59 | 40–50 |
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Frequently asked questions
What nozzle temperature does Silk PLA need?
Guideline for Silk PLA: 190–230 °C nozzle and 25–65 °C bed temperature. The exact values are printed on the manufacturer's spool.
How heat resistant is Silk PLA?
Heat deflection temperature (HDT) is around approx. 65 (Vicat) °C. Above that, loaded parts start to deform.
Does Silk PLA need to be dried?
Recommended: 55 °C, 6–8 h.
Do I need an enclosure for Silk PLA?
An enclosure is not needed, but avoid drafts.
Values are guidelines from manufacturer datasheets (Polymaker, Bambu Lab, Prusa). They may differ by manufacturer, colour and print settings.