<p>Simply put, PLA and ABS should not be mixed into a filament.</p>

<p>The most common issues most printers experience, such as delayering, warping, etc., are addressed completely differently based on the material you are working with. There are many examples of this, and I will attempt to go over some of the basic ones.</p>

<p>You will have extreme difficulty getting proper layer adhesion. Assuming you have a level, flat, semi-coarse (helps) surface for the first layer, the recommended heated bed temperature is 70C for PLA. With ABS, you will experience warping by the 5th layer at that temperature. ABS prefers 110C for a heated bed, and 80C for a heated chamber (personal experience for most reliable results).
Next issue is going to be delayering and stringing. There is no happy medium! Matter of fact, the number of issues even attempting this is almost too many to list. The quality will be complete garbage. On one hand you will have delayering, warping, and jamming of the ABS when set to PLA specs, and stringing, leaking, etc., when set to ABS specs.</p>

<p>I hope this helps.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-18T09:18:42.780Z
PLA-ABS blends are known to be strong: https://www.terrafilum.com/products/composite/
FarO
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-05T05:10:30.250Z
2016-04-05T05:10:30.250Z
Alex Sky
<p>CNC Kitchen tested PLA up to 265 °C or 270 °C in a couple of videos, for example</p>
<p><div class="youtube-embed"><div>
                <iframe width="640px" height="395px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mwS_2R2mIvo?start=0"></iframe>
            </div></div></p>
<p>The plastic (it may depend on the brand) holds just fine up to 250 °C, but (from personal experience) bridges become really difficult to tune. Strength is very good.</p>
<p>ABS can be printed properly starting from 235 °C (depending on the brand). At 235 °C layer adhesion may be suboptimal, but you are mixing it, so it's not obvious that the result will be poor.</p>
<p>So, to summarise you have a common range 235-250 °C where you can print both plastics properly when pure, so it is reasonable to think that by mixing them you will have at least the same temperature range (the bottom may even be extended a bit, as it happens with PC-ABS which prints properly colder than pure PC).</p>
<p>So I would say that it is a worth test with likely positive results.</p>
<p>In fact, ABS-PLA blends exist and are very good blends for industrial use as the <a href="https://www.terrafilum.com/products/composite/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Terrafilum</a> site states:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>ABS_PLA_Blend</p>
<p>Strong PLA Industrial Grade PLA with superior flow and
strength performance; designed for parts where PLA is desired but
where the parts will be subjected to repeated use; ideal for parts
that may need bend slightly without breaking during use.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-12T07:24:15.963Z
Or, OP also just re-created Tiertime PLA
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-18T14:24:10.640Z
If the amount of ABS is kept low, OP basically just reinvented generic-brand "PLA+". :-)
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-18T09:11:42.460Z
2021-08-18T21:48:16.777Z
2021-08-18T21:48:16.777Z
FarO
<p>Mix 'em, let us know how you go. You're unlikely to damage your printer, and you're only 'wasting' scrap.</p>

<p>I suspect that if you mix in small quantities of ABS (30% or less) you'll end up with a PLA mix similar to a 'wood' or 'metal' PLA filament.</p>

<p>To that end, recommend trying to print with PLA settings first, and going from there.</p>

<p>Make sure you let us know how you go, it'll be real interesting to see the results!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-30T00:49:48.007Z
2017-09-30T00:49:48.007Z
Che
<p>First, I print ABS and PLA models.  I have accidentally printed PLA at ABS settings with absolutely no strange effects (being printed at 100 °C heat bed and 225-240 °C extruder temperature).  If the mixture is truly homogenized  together,  I do not see a problem  in mixing the two materials, however,  the cost of a recycler and winder are still cost prohibitive. Like the above poster said, experimenting would be necessary to get the settings right.</p>
<p>Technically, it should work .</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-01T19:23:29.860Z
Your model certainly must have deformed with such a hot bed underneath and nozzle above.  100°C is far above PLA's glass transition temperature, and I would also presume that if you are using an ABS profile your parts cooling fan is set to low or off, slowing the rate at which the hot plastic solidifies.
William
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-18T06:18:27.920Z
2021-08-18T08:05:38.713Z
2021-08-18T08:05:38.713Z
user30818
<p>yes but you would have to experiment with the settings to see were it afectivly melts.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-13T20:53:15.117Z
2017-10-13T20:53:15.117Z
Mark Williamson
<p>This is not a good idea. Both filaments have different melting points, that of ABS being much higher than that of PLA. To melt the ABS you have to heat the plastic to the point where the PLA starts to degrade.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-05T14:07:43.193Z
While I agree it's not a good idea, I don't think it's completely improbable. I've had success in the past with printing ABS and PLA (separately) between 220-225C with no issues printing. In the end, if you combined the two materials, you would need to relearn what extrusion temperatures work for the new material. You'll probably lose a lot of the strength of ABS and rigidity in the PLA by combining them, however it would be a nice cheap alternative if you have a bunch of scrap material and need a simple knick-knack.
tbm0115
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-18T09:13:19.383Z
I think this answer is factually incorrect, since PLA won't degrade up to 250 °C and blends may print properly even when colder than the pure components, e.g. PC-ABS.  The difference in melting temperature PC and ABS is as big as PLA and ABS, yet they work. You may be right for other reasons, but the explanation you provide as basis for the answer is IMHO wrong. See my answer.
FarO
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-14T22:23:31.590Z
2016-01-14T22:23:31.590Z
Tom van der Zanden
<p>I'm thinking of recycling some filament from a couple of recently failed prints. I can reuse them in the future for basic prototypes, so I'm not concerned with whatever weird mixture of colors come out (they are of a few different colors).</p>

<p>The thing is, I have both PLA and ABS, in small quantities. I originally intended to simply use each one separately, but it occurred to me that they could be mixed.</p>

<p>If I recycle PLA and ABS together into one strand of filament, will there be any negative side effects (e.g. reduced strength)?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-12T07:24:52.610Z
See also: [What is PLA+](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/4982/what-is-pla-how-is-it-different-from-pla)
Trish
<abs><pla><filament><recycling>
Can I mix ABS and PLA when recycling filament?
HDE 226868
# Can I mix ABS and PLA when recycling filament?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-01-14)

I'm thinking of recycling some filament from a couple of recently failed prints. I can reuse them in the future for basic prototypes, so I'm not concerned with whatever weird mixture of colors come out (they are of a few different colors).

The thing is, I have both PLA and ABS, in small quantities. I originally intended to simply use each one separately, but it occurred to me that they could be mixed.

If I recycle PLA and ABS together into one strand of filament, will there be any negative side effects (e.g. reduced strength)?

**Tags:** abs, pla, filament, recycling

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: See also: [What is PLA+](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/4982/what-is-pla-how-is-it-different-from-pla)  

---

## 6 answers

### Answer by username_9 on 2016-01-14. Score: 18 | Accepted answer

This is not a good idea. Both filaments have different melting points, that of ABS being much higher than that of PLA. To melt the ABS you have to heat the plastic to the point where the PLA starts to degrade.

> **Comments:**
> **username_10**: While I agree it's not a good idea, I don't think it's completely improbable. I've had success in the past with printing ABS and PLA (separately) between 220-225C with no issues printing. In the end, if you combined the two materials, you would need to relearn what extrusion temperatures work for the new material. You'll probably lose a lot of the strength of ABS and rigidity in the PLA by combining them, however it would be a nice cheap alternative if you have a bunch of scrap material and need a simple knick-knack.  
> **username_3**: I think this answer is factually incorrect, since PLA won't degrade up to 250 °C and blends may print properly even when colder than the pure components, e.g. PC-ABS.  The difference in melting temperature PC and ABS is as big as PLA and ABS, yet they work. You may be right for other reasons, but the explanation you provide as basis for the answer is IMHO wrong. See my answer.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-04-05. Score: 4

Simply put, PLA and ABS should not be mixed into a filament.

The most common issues most printers experience, such as delayering, warping, etc., are addressed completely differently based on the material you are working with. There are many examples of this, and I will attempt to go over some of the basic ones.

You will have extreme difficulty getting proper layer adhesion. Assuming you have a level, flat, semi-coarse (helps) surface for the first layer, the recommended heated bed temperature is 70C for PLA. With ABS, you will experience warping by the 5th layer at that temperature. ABS prefers 110C for a heated bed, and 80C for a heated chamber (personal experience for most reliable results).
Next issue is going to be delayering and stringing. There is no happy medium! Matter of fact, the number of issues even attempting this is almost too many to list. The quality will be complete garbage. On one hand you will have delayering, warping, and jamming of the ABS when set to PLA specs, and stringing, leaking, etc., when set to ABS specs.

I hope this helps.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: PLA-ABS blends are known to be strong: https://www.terrafilum.com/products/composite/  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-08-18. Score: 1

CNC Kitchen tested PLA up to 265 °C or 270 °C in a couple of videos, for example

The plastic (it may depend on the brand) holds just fine up to 250 °C, but (from personal experience) bridges become really difficult to tune. Strength is very good.

ABS can be printed properly starting from 235 °C (depending on the brand). At 235 °C layer adhesion may be suboptimal, but you are mixing it, so it's not obvious that the result will be poor.

So, to summarise you have a common range 235-250 °C where you can print both plastics properly when pure, so it is reasonable to think that by mixing them you will have at least the same temperature range (the bottom may even be extended a bit, as it happens with PC-ABS which prints properly colder than pure PC).

So I would say that it is a worth test with likely positive results.

In fact, ABS-PLA blends exist and are very good blends for industrial use as the [Terrafilum](https://www.terrafilum.com/products/composite/) site states:

> ABS\_PLA\_Blend
>
> Strong PLA Industrial Grade PLA with superior flow and
> strength performance; designed for parts where PLA is desired but
> where the parts will be subjected to repeated use; ideal for parts
> that may need bend slightly without breaking during use.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: If the amount of ABS is kept low, OP basically just reinvented generic-brand "PLA+". :-)  
> **username_1**: Or, OP also just re-created Tiertime PLA  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2017-09-30. Score: 1

Mix 'em, let us know how you go. You're unlikely to damage your printer, and you're only 'wasting' scrap.

I suspect that if you mix in small quantities of ABS (30% or less) you'll end up with a PLA mix similar to a 'wood' or 'metal' PLA filament.

To that end, recommend trying to print with PLA settings first, and going from there.

Make sure you let us know how you go, it'll be real interesting to see the results!


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2021-08-18. Score: 0

First, I print ABS and PLA models. I have accidentally printed PLA at ABS settings with absolutely no strange effects (being printed at 100 °C heat bed and 225-240 °C extruder temperature). If the mixture is truly homogenized together, I do not see a problem in mixing the two materials, however, the cost of a recycler and winder are still cost prohibitive. Like the above poster said, experimenting would be necessary to get the settings right.

Technically, it should work .

> **Comments:**
> **username_7**: Your model certainly must have deformed with such a hot bed underneath and nozzle above.  100°C is far above PLA's glass transition temperature, and I would also presume that if you are using an ABS profile your parts cooling fan is set to low or off, slowing the rate at which the hot plastic solidifies.  

---

### Answer by username_8 on 2017-10-13. Score: -1

yes but you would have to experiment with the settings to see were it afectivly melts.


---

