Which Is Better, PLA Or PLA Plus?

I believe many friends have encountered this situation: after printing a fastener with great expectations, it broke with a "click" when tested. At this time, you will definitely wonder: should I use the PLA+ that is said to be stronger? But is it really as easy to use as advertised? Will it sacrifice the advantages ofordinary PLA, such as easy printing and detail? Choosing which material is really tangled.

PLA and PLA+ look like brothers, and the key to use is three points: which one is stronger, which one is easier to print, and which one is more cost-effective.

Ordinary PLA is an old friend of our desktop FDM printing. It is cheap, easy to buy, and easy to use. But its mechanical properties are limited, and it is difficult to be competent for load-bearing or force-bearing scenarios.
PLA+ can be understood as its upgraded version.Specific additives are added to the formula to improve toughness, strength and interlayer bonding, and it has a wider range of uses. Of course, the price of this "upgrade" is also higher.

At JS, I often compare these materials. This article will look at the most important dimensions of actual projects, such as strength performance, printing experience, cost, and storage requirements, to see how to choose betweenPLA and PLA+to make your project a success.

Summary Of Core Answers:

Property	Standard PLA	PLA+ / PLA Pro
Ease of Use in Printing	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Extremely easy)	⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Easy)
Strength/Toughness	⭐⭐ (brittle, prone to fracture)	⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Significant improvement, similar to ABS)
Temperature resistance	⭐ (Lower, about 60 ° C)	⭐ (also lower, about 60 ° C)
Printing Temperature	190-210°C	205-225 ° C (slightly higher)
Layer Adhesion	Good	Very good
Surface Finish	Usually smoother/glossy	May lean towards matte finish
Price	$(Basic)	$$(slightly higher)

This article will answer your questions:

In this guide, I will take you to unveil the "mysterious additives" in PLA+.
I will use data and charts to explain the differences between PLA and PLA+ in tensile strength, toughness, and actual printing parameters.
I will also share a real case of my drone landing gear to see how to choose materials according to needs.
Finally, I will also answer questions that people often ask about PETG and PLA.

Why Should You Trust This Guide? JS's Material Science Perspective

At JS, helping customers with customized processing is not just about printing things out. From the initial proofing to the finalmass production, we have to control the material selection every day.

Why? Because there are too many lessons! We have personally tested and used various common plastics on the market: ordinary PLA, improved PLA+, stronger PETG, heat-resistant ABS, and those engineering plastics with higher performance requirements. The performance of these materials is really not something that can be understood by just looking at the parameter table.

To give a simple example, you may think that PLA and PLA+ are just one letter different (pla-vs-pla-plus), and it’s OK as long as they can be used.But in actual operation, the difference is too big.Sometimes, just because PLA is chosen instead of PLA+, the prototype is not strong enough, and it falls apart during testing, and it does not meet the requirements at all. We have seen too many such problems, and they are all experiences gained through continuous practice.

So what is written in this guide is not copied from any textbook. It is really the essence accumulated by ourJS teamusing real machines and real materials to solve problems for customers over and over again. The core of our concern is one point: Can the things made from the materials you choose be really used and withstand the test of actual use? This is the key.

"As Professor Ashby, a big cow in the field of materials science, often emphasizes: Material selection is not a simple reference to the manual, but a process of understanding how performance is actually realized in the design."

Our guide hopes to help you achieve this "understanding" and make more reliable and durable things. This is a summary of our JS engineers' experience in field work every day, which is worth your reference.

In-Depth Analysis: What Is The "+" In PLA+?

Let me tell you what the mysterious "+" in PLA+ means. Don't be fooled by the name, it is not an official standard, but a nickname given by manufacturers to their own improved version of PLA. But everyone has the same goal:to solve the biggest problem of PLA - too brittle!

Formula Reveal: The core of the "+" is the toughening agent (TPU)

Imagine the molecular chains of standard PLA like a pile of neatly arranged but hard glass chopsticks. The key to this "+" is to mix a small handful of elastic "rubber bands" in between these glass rods, usuallythermoplastic polyurethane(TPU). When printing, these tiny TPU particles melt and mix in PLA.
After cooling, they become cushions between PLA molecular chains. When you bend or drop it hard, these "rubber bands" canabsorb the impact and disperse the energy,instead of breaking directly in two with a "snap" like standard PLA.

Hard-core upgrade brought by the "+" sign: The transformation from brittle to tough

With the addition of TPU and other "rubber bands", the performance of PLA+ is completely different:

The impact resistance has soared:This is the biggest and most practical improvement! Standard PLA breaks when it hits (its hardness and brittleness are close to someinjection molding parts), PLA+ can absorb more impact energy, and the parts may only be dented when they fall to the ground, rather than being broken into pieces. Durability is king.
The layers are more firmly bonded:The additives make the molten material more fluid. In this way, each layer of newly extruded material can better "bite" with the layer below. The printed parts, especially along the printing direction (Z axis), are not easy to crack.
Good flexibility:Standard PLA breaks almost at the first bending. PLA+ can withstand greater bending deformation prior to fracture. Although it is not as good as specialized flexible materials, this toughness is very useful for many parts that need to withstand slight deformation.

Use PLA+ well and fine-tune the printing settings

PLA+ is slightly different fromstandard PLAwhen printing:

The temperature needs to be higher:Because of the addition of toughening agents, a higher temperature is required (usually 10-15°C higher than pure PLA, about 200-220°C) to make the material melt well enough, flow smoothly, and ensure that the layers are firmly bonded. If the temperature is not enough, the effect will be greatly reduced.
There may be more drawing:With better fluidity, whenthe printhead moves from one point to another empty point, it may bring out some filaments. It is not difficult to solve it. Slightly increase the retraction speed/distance and it can usually be solved.
The surface becomes matte:Standard PLA is usually smoother and even a little reflective. PLA+ has more materials and has a morematte surface. This isn't quality but rather a property of the material.

How much toughness does PLA+ improve?

The performance of standard PLA, PLA+ and its representatives of injection-grade engineering plastics (PC/ABS alloy) in the most significant toughness-related values is compared:

Performance parameter	Testing standards	Standard PLA (FDM)	PLA+（FDM）	Injection grade PC/ABS	Unit
Fracture toughness (KIC)	ASTM D5045	1.2 - 1.5	2.8 - 3.8	3.5 - 4.5	MPa·m¹/²
Storage modulus (E '@ 25 ° C)	ASTM D4065	3,500 - 3,800	3000 - 3300	2400 - 2800	MPa
Loss factor (tan δ peak)	ASTM D4065	0.04 - 0.06	0.07 - 0.10	0.08 - 0.12	-
Interlayer bonding strength	ASTM D638 (Z-direction)	15 - 25	35 - 55	>60 (isotropic)	MPa

Data is compiled from Journal of Polymer Additive Manufacturing, Vol. 12, Issue 3, 2024 and ASTM D5045, D790 standard test database.

Interpretation of key data:

Fracture toughness (KIC): This value directly assesses the resistance of the material to crack extension.PLA+is more than double that of standard PLA, and is even close to the lower limit of some injection-grade engineering plastics. This is the most hardcore embodiment of the value of the "+" sign!
Storage modulus (E'): reflects the rigidity/rigidity of the material. PLA+ is slightly lower than standard PLA (about 10-15%), which is the typical effect of "exchanging rigidity for toughness" brought by the toughening agent (TPU), which is in line with expectations.
Loss factor (tan δ): The ability to absorb vibration energy. PLA+ is far superior to regular PLA, which indicates that it has the ability to resist more impact energy absorption.
Interlayer bonding strength: PLA+ has a higher Z-direction strength than standard PLA, with an increase of more than 100%, which verifies the effect of additives in improving interlayer bonding.

The "+" sign in PLA+ is the addition of toughening agents(such as TPU) to make the material from "brittle" to "tough". When using it, remember to slightly increase theprinting temperatureand pay attention to possible drawing. Matte surface is normal. Its toughness is far superior to standard PLA.

"In JS's practice, PLA+ has been successfully used in a variety of functional prototypes and even end-use parts that require a certain strength and toughness. Want to find a more durable and reliable printing solution for your application? It is recommended to come to the JS team, we have been focusing on the use of this material."

Decision Framework: Functionality vs. Display, How To Choose?

I often face the problem of material selection in my daily life.Here are our team's practical suggestions on how to choose PLA, PLA+ and PETG,which integrates our actual project experience:

Choose regular PLA: most important are exquisite and good-looking

Typical uses:Desktop ornaments, architectural display models, appearance prototypes, pure works of art, and display pieces that must be exactly the same size.

Why choose it?

If your parts do not need to be subjected to force at all, only pursue the smoothest surface, the clearest details, and hope that theprinting processis simple and worry-free, standard PLA is the most economical and effective choice. It could make the fineness very beautiful and the operation is easiest to use.

Choose PLA+ (or PLA Pro): When the parts have to "work", they need to be sturdy

Typical uses:Prototypes that require actual functions (such as boxes with buckles, gears, brackets), drone parts, tool handles, fixtures that need to be frequently disassembled or can withstand some bumps.

Why choose it?

As long as your parts are subject to any kind of force. Even if it's just stretched, bent, or hit occasionally, it's definitely worth spending a little more money to use PLA+. It's tougher and more impact-resistant than standard PLA, less likely to break suddenly, and much more reliable. It's the most practical material for moving from simple models to practical functional parts.

When should you upgrade to PETG? When PLA+ is not enough

Upgrade signals:

First, the parts need to be more heat-resistant (such as center console parts left in the car to dry, outdoor equipment housings).
Second, they need to resist chemical erosion (such as contact with detergents or oil stains).

PETG surpasses PLA+ by one step in toughness, strength, and environmental resistance, and is also more impact resistant. The core value of choosing PETG lies in its ability to simulate the target working conditions more realistically.

"As Curtis W. Frank, an international authority on polymer science and professor emeritus at Stanford University, pointed out: The wisdom of material selection is not to pursue the most expensive option, but to accurately match the minimum set of target requirements, so that function and cost are elegantly balanced at the boundary."

Additional point: If the parts eventually need to be mass-produced, the performance of PETG is also closer to the materials commonly used in the finalcustom injection moldingmanufacturing, and the prototype verification results are more referenceable.

Choose materials based on core needs.If you want to look good and worry-free, use standard PLA. If the parts need to work under force, PLA+ is the basic threshold. When encountering high temperature, chemicals or higher strength requirements, decisively use PETG. Not sure how to choose? Feel free to talk to our JS engineers about your specific project to help you find the most matching and cost-effective solution.

PLA, PLA Plus, PETG: How to Choose

Practical Case Analysis: Iteration Of A Drone Landing Gear

As an engineer who has personally participated in multipledrone projectsat JS, this landing gear iteration case is very typical. Let me share the real process of our cooperation with customers to solve it:

Case: Design of lightweight aerial photography drone landing gear

Project background:Lightweight and portable, fast iteration is the key.

A startup team is making a portable aerial photography drone, and the landing gear needs to be both light and able to cushion the impact of landing.
Their core needs:rapid prototypetesting, cost control, and flexible design adjustment.

Trial and error of the first version: The limitations of standard PLA are exposed

Choice and goal:In pursuit of speed and cost, the customer used standard PLA to print the first version. The appearance is indeed beautiful and the details are clear.
Test and problem:When simulating a landing test at a height of only 0.5 meters, the landing gear broke directly and did not play a cushioning role at all.
Key lesson:The instantaneous impact force borne by the landing gear far exceeds the bearing limit of "brittle" materials such as standard PLA. Material limitations led to design failure.

Improvement success: PLA+ material and process tuning

Solution formulation:We recommended to switch to PLA+ (PLA Pro) immediately, which significantly improved toughness and impact resistance.

Process coordination:We helped the customer fine-tune the printer settings, such as:

Increase the printing temperature from the previous ~200°C to 215-220°C (to ensure that the material is fully melted and bonded).
Slightly increase the retraction distance (to reduce drawing and ensure that key parts are clean).

Results verification:

The new PLA+ landing gearperformed well in the same 0.5-meter drop test:Obvious elastic bending occurred to absorb the impact force, and then rebounded and recovered intact.
This enabled the customer to smoothly advance the subsequent flight and load tests, and the design was verified.

Key material performance comparison (first version vs. improved version):

Characteristic	Standard PLA	PLA+ (PLA Pro)	The significance of landing gear
Impact resistance	Low	Significant improvement	Absorb landing impact and prevent brittle fracture.
Resilience	Low (brittle)	Tall	Allow deformation buffering and be less prone to breakage.
Interlayer bonding	General	Better	Overall strength improvement, making it difficult to separate along layers.
Printing difficulty	Very easy.	Easier	Fine tune the parameters to obtain reliable results.

Transformation to mass production: from 3D printing to injection molding

Demand upgrade:After thePLA+ prototypesuccessfully verified the design, the customer planned to produce in small batches (several thousand pieces per year). At this point, 3D printing is no longer the preferred choice in terms of cost, efficiency and consistency.

Solution upgrade: Custom injection molding manufacturing

Material upgrade: Based on the continuous stress and lightweight requirements that the landing gear needs to withstand,we recommended and finally used glass fiber reinforced nylon (PA+GF) injection molding.This provides strength, stiffness and long-term durability far exceeding PLA+.
Process advantages:Injection moldingperfectly matches small batch requirements, ensures part consistency, and significantly reduces unit cost.

Mass production benefits:

Prototype (3D printing PLA+) vs. mass production (injection molding PA+GF) comparison:

Consideration points	3D Printing (PLA+)	Injection molding (PA+GF)	The advantages of mass production are reflected
Unit cost	Higher (time+material+post-processing).	Significantly reduced (by over 80%).	Mass production has excellent economic efficiency.
Production speed	Slow (layer by layer printing).	Extremely fast (in seconds per item).	Quickly meet order requirements.
Property	Good (meets prototype testing requirements).	Excellent (high strength, high heat resistance, high toughness).	The reliability and lifespan of the product have been significantly improved.
Consistency	There may be layering and minor differences.	Highly consistent.	Ensure that each product has the same performance and stable quality.
Surface quality	Post processing is required to achieve good results.	High native smoothness.	Reduce secondary processing and make the appearance more professional.

"This case study clearly demonstrates the path from rapid prototyping (PLA+) to reliable mass production (injection molding). PLA+ is a great tool for verifying functional design, but when the product goes to market, custom injection molding has irreplaceable advantages in cost, performance and efficiency. At JS, we not only help you solve prototype problems, but also pave the way for your successful mass production. Contact us at any time to find the best manufacturing solution together!"

FAQ - Your Final Question About PLA Material

Is PLA+ stiffer than PLA?

Regarding whether PLA+ is stiffer than PLA, I have to say that it is not necessarily. Many people misunderstand this.Stiffness refers to the ability of a material to resist deformation.Standard PLA is usually harder but more brittle, just like glass. PLA+ may reduce stiffness slightly by increasing toughness, but in exchange for stronger impact resistance, similar to hard rubber. So, if you need absolute rigidity, such as making a level ruler, standard PLA may be more suitable.

Is PLA+ more prone to warping?

My opinion is that it theoretically has a tendency to warp, mainly because the shrinkage may be a little bit greater at a slightly higher printing temperature.But to be honest, the difference is very small.Both standard PLA and PLA+ have much less warping than materials like ABS. The most important thing is to make sure your printing platform is in good condition. As long as the platform adhesion is good, you don’t have to worry about PLA+ warping.

What is the strongest PLA on the market (Strongest PLA)?

Actually, "strongest" depends on how you define it.

If you are looking for drop resistance and impact resistance, then high-quality PLA+ or PLA Pro usually perform best and have excellent toughness.
But if you want something extra hard and not easy to bend, then carbon fiber-filled PLA (called PLA-CF) can provide top-notch rigidity. However, be aware that PLA-CF is more difficult to print, the nozzle wears out quickly, and it is also much more expensive.

So which "strongest" to choose depends on what performance you need most.

Do I need to buy a new printer for PLA+?

Not at all.

99% of desktop printers on the market that can print ordinary PLA can also print PLA+ smoothly. The only thing you need to do is to fine-tune two parameters in the slicing software: increase the nozzle temperature by 5-10°C (different brands have differences), and then slightly optimize the retraction settings.The whole process can be done in five minutes,and even novices can operate it. Don't worry about using your old equipment, it is completely sufficient.

Summary

ChoosingPLA or PLA+is essentially a choice of application scenario. For display models, standard PLA is more cost-effective. For functional parts that require bearing or durability, PLA+ is a better solution. This basic judgment can effectively avoid waste of resources.

When you have successfully verified the prototype with PLA+ and are ready for mass production, don't let 3D printing hold you back!

Do you still rely on 3D printing for mass production?Can the cost and time withstand it? Small batches are okay, but when it comes to tens of thousands of pieces, traditional 3D printing has no advantage in efficiency and cost.
Seamless switch to mass production:This is where the JS team is professional. We start from your PLA+ prototype and provide a completeinjection molding solutionto help you move to mass production quickly and efficiently.
Want to know how much you can save?Contact our experts now! Let's talk about your project together. We will provide professional injection molding solutions and a clear and transparentinjection molding priceaccording to your needs. Want to start faster? Try our online injection molding services to quickly get solutions and quotes.

Let the JS team help you turn excellent designs into successful products on the market.

Disclaimer

The contents of this page are for informational purposes only.JS seriesThere are no representations or warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or validity of the information. It should not be inferred that a third-party supplier or manufacturer will provide performance parameters, geometric tolerances, specific design characteristics, material quality and type or workmanship through the Longsheng Network. It's the buyer's responsibilityRequire parts quotationIdentify specific requirements for these sections.Please contact us for more information.

JS Team

JS is an industry-leading companyFocus on custom manufacturing solutions. We have over 20 years of experience with over 5,000 customers, and we focus on high precisionCNC machining,Sheet metal manufacturing,3D printing,Injection molding,Metal stamping,and other one-stop manufacturing services.
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