Metallic PLA properties
Data taken from 1 datasheets from manufacturers in Spain, Europe, the United States and China, reviewed on October 26, 2026. The shaded bar marks the median of the declared values and each colored tick is a different datasheet. The scales are the same across the whole library, so you can compare materials at a glance.
Metallic PLA temperature and print settings
| Setting | Typical value | Range in datasheets |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle | 200–230 °C | 200–230 °C |
| Bed | 50–60 °C | 50–60 °C |
| Print speed | 200 mm/s | 200–200 mm/s |
| Drying temperature | 50 °C | 50–50 °C |
Metallic PLA vs Bronze PLA, Silk PLA, and PLA: comparison
Medians from each material's datasheets. Click a material to see its full range.
Meters of Metallic PLA per spool
Calculated with the median density from the datasheets (1.21 g/cm³). Real spools can vary by a few meters because of diameter tolerance.
What is aluminum PLA
Under the name aluminum PLA or metallic PLA, PLA filaments with a silver or metallic finish are sold. Many achieve the effect with metallic-sheen pigments and not with a real aluminum filler. The datasheet makes it clear: if it does not state a metal percentage or a high density, it is a pigmented PLA. For this sheet we have found only 1 datasheet for a metal-effect PLA with complete data, so the values correspond to that product.
Metallic PLA compared with metal-filled PLA
| Metallic PLA | Metal-filled PLA | |
|---|---|---|
| What it contains | Pigments with a metallic sheen | Real metal powder |
| Density | Like a PLA (1.21 g/cm³ in its datasheet) | Nearly double or more |
| Abrasive | No | Yes |
| Can be polished | No, the shine comes from the factory | Yes, until the metal shines |
How to print metallic PLA
The same as PLA: nozzle at 200–230 °C and bed at 50–60 °C according to its datasheet. For a uniform metallic shine, print at constant speed, with fine layers and no abrupt changes in flow, because the reflective particles align with the extrusion and any change shows up as a band.
Frequently asked questions about aluminum PLA
Does aluminum PLA contain aluminum?
Normally not: the metallic look comes from pigments. If you want real metal, look for filaments with metal filler, which state the metal percentage and weigh considerably more.