What is PLA?
Polylactic acid is also known as PLA, CAS 26023-30-3. PLA is a new type of biodegradable material, also known as polylactic acid pellets. Polylactic acid is a polyester polymer obtained by polymerization of lactic acid as the main raw material. This material is derived from renewable plant resources, such as corn, sugar cane, etc., through microbial fermentation, chemical synthesis and other methods. Polylactic acid polymer has good biodegradability and can be completely degraded by microorganisms in nature under specific conditions after use, resulting in carbon dioxide and water. PLA will not pollute the environment after degradation, so it is considered as an environmentally friendly material.
The preparation process of polylactic acid includes the extraction of starch raw materials from plants, which is made through saccharification, fermentation, dehydration, polymerization and other steps. This material has high strength, large elongation, excellent drapability, good resilience, UV protection, low smoke production and flammability. However, polylactic acid also has some shortcomings, such as low moisture recovery, poor moisture absorption, poor electrical conductivity, poor adhesion, low glass transition temperature and melting point, and intolerance to strong alkali. In order to give full play to the excellent characteristics of polylactic acid fiber, it is necessary to improve and adjust the process in spinning, weaving, dyeing and sewing. PLA can be widely used in textile, medical, packaging and other fields.
What is polylactic acid used for?
1. Spinning field
Polylactic acid fiber is used for spinning, can be pure or blended, and cotton, linen, silk, wool, viscose, lysell and other other fibers blended, can produce different styles of fabric.
2. Clothing field
Based on the friendly properties of polylactic acid fiber on human skin, as well as the functions of moisture-guiding and quick-drying, lightweight and warm, fluffy and soft brought by special special-shaped fiber, it will be widely used in sports and leisure clothing, school uniforms, underwear, home, baby clothing, gloves and socks, warm clothing and a series of clothing textiles.
3. Packaging industry
PLA is widely used in food packaging, biodegradable plastic bags, food containers and so on because of its good transparency and processing properties.
4. Biodegradable plastic products
PLA is also used to make a variety of disposable items, such as cutlery, cups, straws, etc., aimed at reducing the environmental impact of plastic waste.
5. Agriculture
As a bio-based material, polylactic acid can be used to produce agricultural mulch that breaks down naturally in the soil after use, reducing the problem of plastic residue.
6. Health care
PLA is used in the medical field to produce surgical sutures, tissue-engineered stents, drug sustained-release systems, etc., because of its good biocompatibility and degradability.
7. 3D printing
PLA is one of the most commonly used 3D printing materials due to its ease of processing, relatively low cost and good mechanical properties and surface finish of the printed product.
8. Other industries
PLA can be used to produce automotive interiors, non-load-bearing components, etc., to help reduce vehicle weight and improve fuel efficiency. Polylactic acid can also be used to make housings and components for electronic products because of its good heat resistance and electrical insulation. Polylactic acid can be used to make bioplastic wood, a biodegradable building material used in indoor and outdoor decoration and furniture.
Is PLA natural or synthetic?
Polylactic acid is a kind of polyester polymer obtained by polymerization reaction with lactic acid as the main raw material. It is a new kind of biodegradable material, rather than natural material. Polylactic acid is the starch extracted from corn, cassava and other plants as the initial raw material, through enzyme decomposition to get glucose, and then through lactic acid bacteria fermentation into lactic acid, and then through chemical synthesis to get high purity polylactic acid.
In general, polylactic acid, as an environmentally friendly material, not only has excellent physical and chemical properties, but also has good biocompatibility and degradability, and is a new material with wide application prospects.
Our company is a professional polylactic acid suppliers China, with more than ten years of research and development in the field of biodegradable materials, and has strong technical strength. If you want to know more information about degradable products, please timely communicate with us, looking forward to cooperating with you.
