Bioplastic
PLA — Polylactic Acid
PLA (polylactic acid) is a bio-based thermoplastic polyester with density 1.24 g/cm³, tensile strength 50–65 MPa, tensile modulus 3.0–3.8 GPa, glass transition ~60 °C and HDT ~55 °C. Derived from fermented corn starch or sugarcane, it is the most widely used FDM filament and is compostable under industrial composting conditions. Common grades include NatureWorks Ingeo 4032D / 6202D, TotalEnergies Corbion Luminy LX175 and Sulzer PLA.
PLAIngeoLuminy
Manufacturers
3
Grades
5
Applications
5
Equivalents
3
Physical Properties
- Density
- 1.24 g/cm³
- Water Absorption (24h)
- 0.5 %
- Transparency
- Semi-transparent
- Shrinkage
- 0.3 – 0.5 %
Mechanical Properties
- Young's Modulus
- 3.5 GPa
- Tensile Strength
- 50 – 65 MPa
- Flexural Strength
- 80 MPa
- Impact Strength (Izod)
- 16 J/m
- Elongation at Break
- 6 %
Thermal Properties
- Glass Transition Temperature
- 60 °C
- Melting Point
- 150 – 160 °C
- Heat Deflection Temperature
- 55 °C
- Continuous Service Temperature
- 45 °C
Electrical Properties
- Dielectric Constant
- 3.0
- Volume Resistivity
- 10¹⁴ Ω·cm
Chemical Resistance
- Acids
- Fair
- Bases
- Poor
- Alcohols
- Fair
- UV Resistance
- Poor
- Hydrolysis
- Poor
Sustainability
- Recyclability
- Industrially compostable
- Recycling Code
- 7
- Bio-based Content
- 100 %
- Carbon Footprint
- ~1.6 kg CO₂e / kg
Manufacturing compatibility
3D Printing (FDM)Injection MoldingExtrusionThermoforming
Applications
3D printed prototypes
Disposable cutlery & cups
Compostable packaging
Medical sutures
Textiles
Available grades
PLA StandardPLA+PLA HTPLA SilkPLA CF