Luminy® PLA neat resinsPLA bioplastics for a brighter future

corbion.com/bioplastics

PLA is a biobased plastic derived from renewable resources and offers a significant reduction in carbon footprint compared to traditional oil-based plastics. Corbion uses carbohydrates as the raw material to produce lactic acid, which is polymerized via the lactide monomer into PLA. PLA is currently being used in a variety of applications like packaging and food serviceware, and is increasingly becoming the material of choice for more durable applications in automotive, electronics and textiles.

Fig 1. Luminy® PLA portfolio from Corbion

Product category

Incr

easi

ng m

olec

ular

wei

ght

Standard PLA

High heatPLA

PDLA

LX175

D070

LX175

L105

L130

L175

D120

Corbion’s Luminy® portfolio includes a number of PLA neat resin grades based on stereochemically pure monomers. The portfolio includes products in four categories:• High heat PLA for injection molding (L105, L130),• High heat PLA (L175) and standard PLA (LX175) for

extrusion/thermoforming,• High heat PLA (L130, L175) and standard PLA (LX175)

for fiber spinning,• PDLA as a nucleating agent for high heat PLA (D070) and

PDLA in medium viscosity (D120).

Luminy® neat PLA resins from Corbion are compliant with the most relevant regulations and requirements related to bioplastics:• Approved for use in food contact applications (EU

Framework Regulation EC No. 1935/2004 and No. 10/2011),

• Compliant with EN13432 standard for industrial composting,

• Biobased content of 100%,• REACH compliant,• Reduced carbon footprint - peer reviewed LCA study

available.• Made from European sugar beet and Thai sugarcane:

these are always GMO-free crops.

Biobased

Reduced carbon footprint

Multiple end-of-life options

Proven in durable applications

7W2030

The Luminy® portfolio of neat PLA resins are available in a range of PLA categories and viscosities (see fig. 2 and table below).

High heat PLA

High heat PLA resins in the Luminy® portfolio are available in a range of melt viscosities and deliver improved heat resistance over standard PLA. These grades can be used as neat resin or as part of a compound in order to further optimize overall material properties. In order to obtain improved heat resistance over standard PLA, these resins need to crystallize during processing.• Luminy® PLA L105 is a high flow resin suitable for injection

molding.• Luminy® PLA L130 is a medium flow resin suitable for

injection molding and fiber spinning.• Luminy® PLA L175 is a high viscosity resin suitable for film

extrusion, thermoforming or fiber spinning.

Standard PLA

• Luminy® PLA LX175 is a high viscosity, amorphous, transparent resin, suitable for film extrusion, thermoforming or fiber spinning.

PDLA

PDLA, when combined with high heat PLA, will yield a compound that combines good heat resistance with excellent mechanical properties and a reduced processing cycle time (see figure 3). Typical nucleated formulations should include 3-7% PDLA.• Luminy® PDLA D070 is a general purpose nucleating agent

for PLA homopolymer resins.• Luminy® PDLA D120 is a medium viscosity PDLA resin.

Fig 2. Luminy® high heat PLA compared to standard PLA

Biop

last

ics

•

2017

/01/

03

• TS

-PLA

-PO

RTFO

LIO

-170

103

Corbion is the global market leader in lactic acid, lactic acid derivatives and lactides, and a leading company in emulsifiers, functional enzyme blends, minerals and vitamins.

For the plastics industry, Corbion offers PLA resins for general purpose and high performance bioplastics. PLA (Poly Lactic Acid) is a biobased plastic with a low carbon

footprint and is used in packaging, disposables, fibers, electronics and automotive markets. Corbion operates 11 production plants, in the USA, the Netherlands, Spain, Brazil

and Thailand, and markets its products through a worldwide network of sales offices and distributors.

Interested in our solutions for PLA bioplastics ? Go to corbion.com/bioplastics bioplastics@corbion.com @CorbionBioplast

© Copyright 2016 Corbion. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, downloaded, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical photocopied, recorded or otherwise, without permission of the publisher. No representation or warranty is made as to the truth or accuracy of any data, information or opinions contained herein or as to their suitability for any purpose, condition or application. None of the data, information or opinions herein may be relied upon for any purpose or reason. Corbion disclaims any liability, damages, losses or other consequences suffered or incurred in connection with the use of the data, information or opinions contained herein. In addition, nothing contained herein shall be construed as a recommendation to use any products in conflict with existing patents covering any material or its use.

PLA PDLAL105* L130* L175* LX175 D070 D120

Application Thin wall injection molding

General purpose injection molding,

fibers

Thermoforming, fibers, extrusion

Thermoforming, fibers, films,

extrusion

Nucleating agent for injection

molding

Medium viscosity

resin

PhysicalDensity g/cm3 1.24 1.24 1.24 1.24 1.24 1.24

Optical purity % isomer >99% L >99% L >99% L 96% L >99% D >99% D

Processing

MFI (Flow, 210°C/2.16 kg) g/10min 50 25 6 6 >75 25

Melting temperature (Tm) °C 175 175 175 155 175 175

Glass transition temperature (Tg) °C 57 57 57 55 57 57

Pre-drying before processing yes/no Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

MechanicalTensile modulus MPa 3500 3500 3500 3500 3500 3500

Tensile strength MPa 50 50 50 45 40 50

Elongation at break % <5% <5% <5% <5% <5% <5%

Impact Charpy notched, 23°C kJ/m2 <5 <5 <5 <5

Heat**HDT B (amorphous) °C 55 - 60 55 - 60 55 - 60 55 - 60

HDT B (crystalline) °C 100 - 110 100 - 110 100 - 110 * Values listed are typical values for resins in crystalline state, for more detailed information please refer to specific datasheets. ** HDT B, 0.45MPa, flatwise. HDT depends on processing conditions. For crystalline resins, formulation included 3 - 7% nucleating agent (Luminy® D070) and molding took place in a 90 - 100°C tool

Fig 3. Effect of nucleating package and mold temperature on crystallization time

Requ

ired

crys

talli

zatio

n tim

e (s

)

B

Mold temperature (°C)LAK 301 nucleated high heat PLA (1.5mm part thickness)PDLA nucleated high heat PLA (1.5mm part thickness)

140

100

120

80

60

40

20

075 11511010510095908580

D Lactic Acid L Lactic Acid

PLLAL105 L130L175

PDLAD070D120

PLALX175

Luminy® standard PLA (Tm = 311°F / 155°C)

Luminy® high heat PLA (Tm = 347°F / 175°C)

Luminy® PLA neat resinsPLA bioplastics for a brighter future