PLA Can Be Weather Resistant

Many people don’t usually consider PLA to be weather resistant because it is well-known for having a relatively low heat resistance compared to other engineering plastics. However, PLA can actually exhibit surprisingly good resistance to UV exposure and various weather conditions when it is formulated and processed correctly. While traditional PLA may degrade more quickly under prolonged sunlight or outdoor exposure, specially engineered PLA variants can hold up much better in these environments than commonly assumed.

For example, Polymaker’s Matte PLA for Production has been subjected to rigorous weather resistance testing, which demonstrated that it performs on par with ASA, a material widely recognized for its excellent UV and weather durability. This means that, despite the typical perception of PLA as a material better suited for indoor or low-stress applications, certain advanced PLA formulations like Polymaker’s Matte PLA can be confidently used for outdoor projects or parts exposed to sunlight without rapid degradation. This opens new possibilities for using PLA in functional applications where both aesthetic finish and environmental resistance are important.