PVA

PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) is a water-soluble support filament. You print it from a second extruder or a multi-material system under overhangs, inside cavities and around moving parts, then dissolve it in tap water and get clean surfaces without breaking supports off. It is meant for owners of dual-extrusion and multi-material printers who print complex geometry in PLA, PETG, ABS or ASA. All support filaments listed here ship from our warehouse in Senec, Slovakia.

Properties of PVA

• Water-soluble – dissolves in tap water; lukewarm, circulating water speeds the process up.
• Very hygroscopic – absorbs moisture from the air quickly, so it has to be stored and printed dry.
• Matched to the model material – the support must print at a temperature close to the model material, which is why there are separate versions for PLA, PETG and ABS/ASA.

Print settings

• AquaSolve (for PLA): nozzle about 200 °C, never above 210 °C; bed 60 °C.
• Atlas Support (for PETG): nozzle about 200 °C, maximum 225 °C; bed 60 °C.
• Helios Support (for ABS, ASA): nozzle about 245 °C, up to 250 °C; bed 70 °C; heated chamber up to 60 °C.
• PolyDissolve™ S1 (for PLA, TPU, PVB, Nylon): nozzle about 220 °C, bed 60 °C; dry at 80 °C for 12 h.
• Print speed 20–60 mm/s, no enclosure needed. Keep the idle nozzle temperature low so that PVA does not crystallise.

Typical uses

Hollow parts with internal channels, large overhangs, print-in-place mechanisms and other shapes where supports cannot be reached with tools. PVA can also be used to print dissolvable moulds.

Pros and cons

• Pros: support-free surfaces, almost unlimited geometry, no tools needed for removal.
• Cons: requires a dual-extrusion or multi-material printer, very sensitive to moisture, needs careful tuning of temperatures.

Frequently asked questions

Which PVA should I choose?

Match it to your model material: AquaSolve or PolyDissolve™ S1 for PLA, Atlas Support for PETG and Helios Support for ABS and ASA. Polymaker states that PolyDissolve™ S1 also supports TPU, PVB and Nylon very well, but not ABS or PC.

How should I store PVA?

In a sealed bag or box with desiccant, ideally dried before every print. Wet PVA bubbles, strings and can clog the nozzle.

Is PolySupport™ Breakaway a PVA?

No. PolySupport™ is a breakaway support for Polymaker PLA that you remove by hand, not with water. We list it together with the other support filaments.

Browse all PVA and support filaments. For ABS prints you can also use HIPS, a support material that dissolves in limonene.