products

Search this site:

The PLA

PLA (polylactic acid) is a plastic produced from resources that can be renewed on an annual basis, such as sugar beet, sugar cane, wheat, maize and cellulose. In addition, PLA has the distinctive feature of being biocompatible and biodegradable.

PLA has been known as a polymer for many years in medical applications, such as stitches, orthopedic or galenical pins. This sector of application was developed on the basis of the biocompatibility between humans and this polymer, which is obtained from lactic acid. Due to technological developments and optimisations of the procedure, PLA is now available on commodity markets, such as packaging, disposable objects, fibres and more. Many product developments are ongoing and should enable, in the near future, the use of PLA in such sustainable applications as the automotive industry, floor coverings and electronics.

PLA is suited to all plastics technology techniques. However, like all polyesters PLA is sensitive to the combination of moisture and temperature. Drying the polymer prior to use is recommended to protect the intrinsic properties of the material, especially its mechanical properties, as in the case of PET (polyethylene terephthalate).

PLA’s application properties:

• High rigidity
• Very good optical properties in terms of transparency and gloss
• Good fat, oil and flavour barrier properties
• Intermediate vapour permeability level, which gives it a breathability level that enables use in packaging for ready-to-eat vegetables
• Gas barrier properties (O2, CO2), which means it can be used as an intermediate for various consumer polymers
• Wetting tension, enabling easier printing
• Good twist retention, used in sweets packaging