Why is PLA biodegradable material becoming more and more popular?

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a new type of biodegradable material made from starch raw materials derived from renewable plant resources (such as corn). The starch raw material is saccharified to obtain glucose, which is then fermented with glucose and a certain strain of bacteria to produce high-purity lactic acid, and then polylactic acid with a certain molecular weight is synthesized through chemical synthesis. It has good biodegradability and can be completely degraded by microorganisms in nature after use, eventually generating carbon dioxide and water without polluting the environment. This is very beneficial to protectingthe environment and is a recognized environmentally friendly material.

Advantages of PLA

1. Sufficient sources of raw materials

The raw materials for producing polylactic acid are renewable resources such as corn, without using precious natural resources such as oil and wood, so it will play a great role in protecting the increasingly depleted oil resources.

2. Superior physical properties

Polylactic acid is suitable for various processing methods such as blow molding and thermoplastic. It is easy to process and has a wide range of applications. It can be used to process various plastic products, packaged food, fast food lunch boxes, non-woven fabrics, industrial and civilian fabrics from industry to civilian use. Then it is processed into agricultural fabrics, health care fabrics, rags, sanitary products, outdoor anti-UV fabrics, agriculture, forestry and environmental protection, 3D printing, medical fields, and automotive technology fields are also constantly expanding. From the perspective of application form, polylactic acid is mainly used in films, sheets, fibers and wires, and its market prospects are very promising.

3. Food and human safety

Polylactic acid also has excellent biocompatibility. Its degradation product, L-lactic acid, can participate in human metabolism. It has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and can be used as medical surgical sutures, injection capsules, microspheres and implants. Plant agents, etc.

4. Good hardness, gloss and thermoplasticity

Polylactic acid (PLA) film has good air permeability, oxygen permeability and carbon dioxide permeability. It also has odor isolation properties. Viruses and mold easily adhere to the surface of biodegradable plastics, so there are concerns about safety and hygiene. However, polylactic acid is the only biodegradable plastic with excellent antibacterial and antifungal properties.

5. Fully biocompostable and degradable

Polylactic acid (PLA) can be completely degraded by microorganisms in nature after use, and ultimately generates carbon dioxide and water without polluting the environment. This is very beneficial to protecting the environment. It is a recognized environmentally friendly material, and its production energy consumption and carbon footprint are relatively low.

Disadvantages of PLA

1. Polylactic acid contains a large number of ester bonds and has poor blendability with most other plastics.

2. The product has a wide molecular weight distribution, is a linear polymer, is highly brittle, and has poor impact resistance.

3. Low heat distortion temperature (generally not heat-resistant unless crystallized with a hot mold after modification).

4. It must be degraded in 3-6 months under industrial composting conditions. In the natural environment, the degradation is slow, the cycle is long, and it is difficult to control.

5. The price is higher than traditional plastic.

It is worth noting that the advantages and disadvantages of polylactic acid are relative when used. For example, when used in the field of packaging materials, high air permeability becomes a shortcoming that needs to be overcome. When used in the textile field, its hard and brittle characteristics will also become a problem that needs to be solved. question. In terms of mechanical properties, the tensile strength and modulus of polylactic acid are equivalent to PET and higher than PS and PP. In use, it is basically a benchmark replacement for PET and PP in some applications.

PLA is one of the biodegradable materials that has attracted research attention at home and abroad. Food packaging, disposable tableware and medical materials are its three popular application areas. PLA uses naturally derived lactic acid as its main raw material and has good biodegradability and biocompatibility. Its life cycle load on the environment is significantly lower than that of petroleum-based materials. It is considered a promising green packaging material.

As a new type of pure bio-based material, PLA has great market application prospects. Its good physical properties and the environmental protection of the material itself will inevitably make PLA more widely used in the future.