Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) is a semicrystalline, biodegradable polyester derived from renewable resources, commonly produced via ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide. It is a thermoplastic material valued in applications demanding biocompatibility, controllable degradation timescales, and moderate mechanical strength. PLLA dominates the medical device and packaging sectors because it breaks down into benign lactic acid through hydrolysis, eliminating permanent implant removal in many clinical contexts, while its stiffness and processability make it competitive with conventional plastics for short-service-life consumer products where environmental persistence is a liability.
Compliance & Regulations
| Property | Value | Unit | Conditions | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Compressive Strength(σc) | 13.72 | MPa | — | ||
Elongation at Break(εf) | 31.68 | - | — | ||
Flexural Strength (MOR)(σf) | 109.1 | MPa | — | ||
Hardness (Vickers)(HV) | 171.7 | HV | — | ||
Ultimate Tensile Strength(σUTS) | 44.46 | MPa | — | ||
Young's Modulus(E) | 1.667 | GPa | — |
| Property | Value | Unit | Conditions | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Glass Transition Temperature(Tg) | 332.3 | K | — | ||
Melting Point / Solidus(Tm) | 442.5 | K | — | ||
Maximum Service Temperature(Tmax) | 559.5 | K | — | ||
Thermal Conductivity(k) | 0.2942 | W/(m·K) | — |
| Property | Value | Unit | Conditions | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Refractive Index(n) | 1.467 | - | — |