Applications Polylactic acid

mulch film made of pla-blend bio-flex



biodegradable pla cups in use @ restaurant



tea bags made of pla. peppermint tea enclosed.




3d printing of microcoil using conductive mixture of polylactide , carbon nanotubes.

pla can processed extrusion such 3d printing, injection molding, film , sheet casting, , spinning, providing access wide range of materials.

3d printed human skull data computed tomography. transparent pla.

pla used feedstock material in desktop fused filament fabrication 3d printers (e.g. reprap). pla printed solids can encased in plaster-like moulding materials, burned out in furnace, resulting void can filled molten metal. known lost pla casting , type of investment casting.

being able degrade innocuous lactic acid, pla used medical implants in form of anchors, screws, plates, pins, rods, , mesh. depending on exact type used, breaks down inside body within 6 months 2 years. gradual degradation desirable support structure, because gradually transfers load body (e.g. bone) area heals. strength characteristics of pla , plla implants documented.

pla can used decomposable packaging material, either cast, injection-molded, or spun. cups , bags have been made material. in form of film, shrinks upon heating, allowing used in shrink tunnels. useful producing loose-fill packaging, compost bags, food packaging, , disposable tableware. in form of fibers , nonwoven fabrics, pla has many potential uses, example upholstery, disposable garments, awnings, feminine hygiene products, , diapers. bio-compatibility , biodegradability, pla has found ample interest polymeric scaffold drug delivery purposes.

racemic , regular plla has low glass transition temperature, undesirable. stereocomplex of pdla , plla has higher glass transition temperatures, lending more mechanical strength. has wide range of applications, such woven shirts (ironability), microwavable trays, hot-fill applications , engineering plastics (in case, stereocomplex blended rubber-like polymer such abs). such blends have form stability , visual transparency, making them useful low-end packaging applications. pure poly-l-lactic acid (plla), on other hand, main ingredient in sculptra, long-lasting facial volume enhancer, used lipoatrophy of cheeks. progress in biotechnology has resulted in development of commercial production of d enantiomer form, not possible until recently.

pla used in e-tobacco industry. philip morris’s iqos heets, includes pla slow vapour down without absorbing it, giving time cool more pleasant temperature before inhaling it.