Which one of Zortrax printing materials is most safe for using to be in contact with food and drinks? Doesn' t seem that it is ABS or Ultrat. Perhaps Hips? Or glass?
All the printed items in LPD/FFF/FDM technology are not intended for use with food, even if material specifications include informatiom about safety use with food, this information applies only when items are produced in the injection molding technology.
The reason why you should not use items printed in the above-mentioned technology is that all printed items have very many cracks in the or between layers connections which makes the growth of bacteria etc. Of course you can use items printed with Z-HIPS for single use.
BR,
Igor
Ok, but what about glass, why is it worse than Z-HIPS?
And what about HIPS post finishing with heat or acetone for removing cracks between layers? (I didn't use hips before, so I dont know how is it possible to finish it)
I would suggest a food safe coating over the plastic. Something like XTC-3D but it doesn't say if it is food safety.
Or even do a nice Acetone bath and totally smooth the outside of the plastic piece which makes it hard and glossy.
I have cup holders with both XTC and acetone sitting outside for months and neither one has deteriorated or flaked at all.
If in doubt just use a PET or PLA filament but making them smooth as to clean any bacteria is the key.
Ok, but what about glass, why is it worse than Z-HIPS?
And what about HIPS post finishing with heat or acetone for removing cracks between layers? (I didn't use hips before, so I dont know how is it possible to finish it)
because Hips works.