PVA Filamente
Polyvinyl Alcohol
PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol) is a water-soluble filament used exclusively as a support material in dual-extrusion printers. It is not used for building the main model — instead, it is deposited where supports are needed, and the finished print is placed in plain water to dissolve the supports away cleanly, with no manual removal required. This makes it invaluable for complex geometries with internal cavities, steep overhangs, or interlocking parts that would be impossible to support any other way. PVA pairs most naturally with PLA because their print temperatures are similar. It is one of the most moisture-sensitive filaments available: even a few hours of open-air exposure can make the spool unprintable — brittle, foamy, or prone to nozzle clogs. Strict dry storage and careful handling are essential.
Wofür wird PVA verwendet?
- Dissolvable supports for complex overhangs and bridging
- Internal cavities and enclosed channels that cannot be reached manually
- Interlocking or captured assemblies printed in a single session
- High-detail models where support scarring must be minimised
PVA drucken
Print PVA between 185 and 200 °C (Simplify3D reference range), paired with PLA at its normal temperature. Bed temperature 45–60 °C. No enclosure is required. PVA is notoriously prone to nozzle clogs, especially if overheated or left idle in a hot nozzle — keep temperatures at the low end of the range and retract PVA from the nozzle during long idle periods between tool changes. Store the spool in a sealed container with silica gel at all times; if the material has absorbed moisture, dry it at 50–55 °C for 8–12 hours before printing. To dissolve supports: submerge the finished print in warm water (40–60 °C); dissolution typically takes 2–12 hours depending on support volume.
Vorteile
- Leaves zero support scars — dissolves cleanly in water
- Enables geometries impossible with breakaway supports
- Non-toxic and safe to dispose of down the drain
- No manual support removal tools or effort needed
Grenzen
- Requires a dual-extrusion printer
- Extremely hygroscopic — degrades rapidly in open air
- Prone to nozzle clogs, especially when overheated
- Significantly more expensive than standard filaments
- Dissolution can take hours for large support volumes