PLA is a biodegradable thermoplastic polyester issued from lactic acid. During the production process, starch is first extracted, generally speaking, from corn. Starch hydrolysis produces sugars (glucose, dextrose...) which goes through fermentation treatment in order to be converted to lactic acid.The enantiomeric monomers (D and L) are polycondensed via its cyclic dimmer (lactide) by ring-opening polymerisation (ROP) to a high molecular weight polymer.

Physical properties :

• Density : 1,25
• Glass transition temperature : 55-60°C
• Fusion temperature (or compounded PLA) : 145-155°C
• Crystallisation temperature : 100-120°C
• Degradation temperature : 240-250°C
• Fusion index : 4-20 g/10 min (190°C / 2,16K) 
• Tensile modulus : 2500-4500 MPa
• Tensile strength at break : 30-50 MPa
• Tensile elongation : 3-6 %
• Tensile yield strength : 20-70 MPa
• Notched Izod impact : 8-32 J/m
• Crystallisation rate : 0-1 %