polylacticacid

polymer

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.

food and beverage packaging3D printer filamentbiodegradable textiles and fibersbiomedical implants and suturesconsumer goods injection moldingcompostable films and sheets

Compliance & Regulations

?UL 94?Conflict Free?RoHS?REACH?TSCA?Prop 65
Units:
siimperial
PropertyValueUnitConditionsSource
Compressive Strength(σc)
—
Pa——
Elongation at Break(εf)
—
-——
Ultimate Tensile Strength(σUTS)
—
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——
Maximum Service Temperature(Tmax)
—
K——
Verified Unverified Low confidence (<80%) Link to source
PropertyValueUnitConditionsSource
Band Gap(Eg)
—
eV——
Verified Unverified Low confidence (<80%) Link to source
PropertyValueUnitConditionsSource
Refractive Index(n)
—
-——
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.