Wood filament, also referred to as "wood filament", is a composite material for 3D printing. The base is usually a common plastic, most commonly PLA, with fine particles of real wood, such as wood dust or fibers, mixed in. The main purpose of this material is to create prints that resemble real wood in appearance, texture and matte finish. A slight wood smell may even be released during the printing process. Due to its solid wood particle content, this filament is abrasive, which means that it wears out faster than standard brass nozzles. It is therefore recommended to use a nozzle made of a hardened material such as hardened steel for printing. Wood particles can also cause nozzle clogging, so it is preferable to use nozzles with a larger diameter, such as 0.5 mm or more. An interesting feature is that changing the print temperature can affect the colour shade of the print - higher temperatures produce a darker appearance. Finished prints can be further treated like real wood - they can be sanded, stained, varnished or dyed. In terms of mechanical properties, objects made of this material tend to be more fragile and less strong than those made of pure plastic, so it is mainly suitable for decorative and visual models, not for functional parts subject to mechanical stress.
