Glow-in-the-dark filament: phosphorescent PLA

How glow-in-the-dark filament works

A powder, most often strontium aluminate, is mixed into PLA. This is phosphorescence: the pigment absorbs light and then slowly releases it. The part charges in light for a few minutes and in the dark it glows, usually with a greenish or bluish light. The glow gradually fades.

The more pigment and the thicker the wall, the stronger the glow.

What complicates printing

• The pigment is hard and abrasive, so an ordinary brass nozzle wears quickly and you need a hardened one.
• The filament is brittle and snaps easily.
• The pigment changes the colour: without light the part is pale.

Glow-in-the-dark filament and our range

We do not print glow-in-the-dark filament. We offer PLA (€8 per kg) and PETG (€9 per kg), which is only the material share of the price. You can add the glow at home, for example by coating the finished part with phosphorescent paint, see painting. We do not do that.

For warning signs and plaques in the dark, reflective tape is often enough. Write to jakub.novak@boostello.com if you have a different requirement. We do not promise to print glow-in-the-dark filament.

When you really need the glow

If you need a part to show the way in the dark, such as a switch or a staircase, a phosphorescent sticker or tape is more practical and cheaper. Glow-in-the-dark filament suits decorations and toys, where strength and accuracy do not matter.

Several colours in one part, for example silver and black, we print from a 3MF with colours assigned. Colour changes add a purge tower and time, which is why that kind of print costs more.