---
title: "Can you mix pla filament and abs filament?"
description: "PLA filament and abs filament: no — it damages something or fails. What actually happens, and what to do instead."
url: https://atoneplace.net/can-you-mix/pla-and-abs-printing/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Can you mix pla filament and abs filament?

**PLA filament and ABS filament: No — it damages something or fails**

They will not bond to each other, and they want different temperatures.

## What actually happens

PLA prints around 200 °C and ABS around 240 °C, so a multi-material print has to compromise on a temperature that suits neither. More fundamentally the two do not adhere: a layer boundary between them is a clean split. ABS also shrinks substantially as it cools and PLA barely does, so a part made of both warps itself apart even where it did bond.

## What to do instead

Use one material per part, or a pairing designed to work together — PLA with PVA or with a soluble support material.

## Paint, glue and materials

| Combination | Verdict | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Water-based paint and oil-based paint underneath | Do not | Not directly. It will look fine and peel off in sheets later. |
| Superglue and baking soda | Fine | Yes, and it is a genuinely useful trick — but it gets hot. |
| Expanding foam and water | Fine | Yes — polyurethane foam needs moisture to cure, and misting the gap helps. |

## Common questions

### Can you mix pla filament and abs filament?

No — it damages something or fails. They will not bond to each other, and they want different temperatures.

### What happens if you do?

PLA prints around 200 °C and ABS around 240 °C, so a multi-material print has to compromise on a temperature that suits neither. More fundamentally the two do not adhere: a layer boundary between them is a clean split. ABS also shrinks substantially as it cools and PLA barely does, so a part made of both warps itself apart even where it did bond.

### What should I do instead?

Use one material per part, or a pairing designed to work together — PLA with PVA or with a soluble support material.

## Related pages

- [Water-based paint and oil-based paint underneath](https://atoneplace.net/can-you-mix/latex-over-oil-paint/)
- [Superglue and baking soda](https://atoneplace.net/can-you-mix/superglue-and-baking-soda/)
- [Expanding foam and water](https://atoneplace.net/can-you-mix/expanding-foam-and-water/)
- [Bleach and ammonia](https://atoneplace.net/can-you-mix/bleach-and-ammonia/)
- [Bleach and vinegar](https://atoneplace.net/can-you-mix/bleach-and-vinegar/)
- [Bleach and toilet cleaner](https://atoneplace.net/can-you-mix/bleach-and-toilet-cleaner/)
- [Bleach and rubbing alcohol](https://atoneplace.net/can-you-mix/bleach-and-rubbing-alcohol/)
- [Hazard symbols](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/)

## Sources

- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)