Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA)

Verifiedpolymer
· PLLA· PLA· Polylactic acid

Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyester derived from renewable resources, commonly produced from corn starch or sugarcane. It is widely used in medical devices—particularly orthopedic fixation (screws, plates, pins) and cardiovascular stents—where its controllable biodegradability allows the material to gradually resorb as tissue heals, eliminating the need for device removal. PLLA is also employed in sustainable packaging, 3D-printed prototypes, and textile fibers; engineers select it over conventional plastics when environmental impact, biocompatibility, or temporary mechanical support is critical, though its brittleness and lower thermal stability compared to petroleum-based polymers require careful design consideration.

orthopedic fixation devicescardiovascular stents and scaffoldsbiodegradable implantssustainable packaging and films3D-printed medical prototypessutures and textile fibers

Compliance & Regulations

?UL 94?Conflict Free?RoHS?REACH?TSCA?Prop 65
Units:
siimperial
PropertyValueUnitConditionsSource
Elongation at Break(εf)
—
-——
Flexural Strength (MOR)(σf)
—
Pa——
Ultimate Tensile Strength(σUTS)
—
Pa——
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)(σy)
—
Pa——
Young's Modulus(E)
—
Pa——
Verified Unverified Low confidence (<80%) Link to source
PropertyValueUnitConditionsSource
Glass Transition Temperature(Tg)
—
K——
Melting Point / Solidus(Tm)
—
K——
Verified Unverified Low confidence (<80%) Link to source
PropertyValueUnitConditionsSource
Density(ρ)
—
kg/m³——
Verified Unverified Low confidence (<80%) Link to source

Regulatory Screening

Environmental

Safety & Biocompatibility

RoHS, REACH, and Prop 65 statuses are validated against official substance lists (ECHA SVHC Candidate List, OEHHA Prop 65, RoHS Annex II). Other regulations are estimated from composition and material classification. All screening is a starting point for due diligence — always verify with your supplier before making compliance decisions.