metal PLA: experience anyone?

SainSmart offers metal PLA with 40% real metal ( aluminum, copper, brass, bronze )

I'd like to know if parts would be conductive or are better suited to cool down things?
How about stability?

Thanks
Olaf

I've tried colorfabs copper, bronze and brass filament as well as proto-pastas stainless steel. They print pretty well and you can get some great looking prints from them. I've even been using a 0.25mm nozzle just to see if it's possible, even though it isn't recommended by the manufactures.
The filament is quite brittle so you'll need to be careful. The prints are also quite brittle however I've only printed tiny things so that might have some bearing on it.

They're not electrically conductive and as for heat conduction I'm not sure how to test it.

I'd suggest getting some samples from [globalfsd.com] for example, even if they don't stock the exact brand you want to use it might help get a 'feel' for metal fill filaments.

Don't use these for technical purposes. They don't conduct electricity and while they may conduct heat better than pure PLA you should keep in mind that it is still PLA that is the base and the part will become soft at 60°C. In general they have a similar mechanical stability as PLA.
These filaments are for figurines etc., not for technical parts.

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Has anyone tried to sinter a 3D-printed part from metal-containing filament and what are the results?

Sintering: Heat up a component below melting temperature of the metal under a protective atmosphere, burn out the plastics and bond the metallic particles together by high temperature diffusion

Not my video:
[www.youtube.com]

Quote
powdermetal
Has anyone tried to sinter a 3D-printed part from metal-containing filament and what are the results?

Sintering: Heat up a component below melting temperature of the metal under a protective atmosphere, burn out the plastics and bond the metallic particles together by high temperature diffusion

I just can't see that possible with something printed out with PLA having 40% or so metal content.
First the parts are not electrically conductive meaning the metal particles are not touching each other often enough to create conductive path. And this in turn means that PLA is actually holding them together. Burning it away would probably simply ruin the shape and left crumbling pile of metal shavings and plastic ashes. Another issue would be the time it takes to reach the needed temperature - part would require to stay in shape long after PLA turned into ashes.

I have some experience and familiarity with the sintering process of ceramics and metal powders. But back then (around 20 years ago) the mixes used in the process were 100% usable content and none was meant to be burned out or otherwise removed from the resulting part - i am not aware of process based on such 'material reducing sintering' concept but again I am not up to date on that field anymore...

I am not trying to shoot the idea down.That would be really interesting to know if regardless of what I think someone tried it and can share the experiences...