Polylactic acid (PLA) is a thermoplastic polyester derived from renewable resources such as corn starch or sugarcane, making it a bio-based and biodegradable polymer alternative to petroleum-based plastics. It is widely used in packaging, textiles, 3D printing filament, and biomedical devices where its combination of processability, environmental degradability, and biocompatibility are advantageous. Engineers select PLA over conventional polymers when lifecycle environmental impact, compostability, or regulatory requirements favor renewable materials, though its lower heat resistance and brittleness compared to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polypropylene (PP) limit applications requiring high-temperature performance or impact toughness.
Compliance & Regulations
| Property | Value | Unit | Conditions | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Compressive Strength(σc) | 92.97 | ksi | — | ||
Elongation at Break(εf) | 5.933 | - | — | ||
Ultimate Tensile Strength(σUTS) | 9.952 | ksi | — | ||
Young's Modulus(E) | 304.6 | ksi | — |
| Property | Value | Unit | Conditions | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Glass Transition Temperature(Tg) | 125.6 | °F | — | ||
Melting Point / Solidus(Tm) | 269.2 | °F | — | ||
Maximum Service Temperature(Tmax) | 605.6 | °F | — |
| Property | Value | Unit | Conditions | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Band Gap(Eg) | 2.270 | eV | — |
| Property | Value | Unit | Conditions | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Refractive Index(n) | 1.461 | - | — |