Polylactic Acid, Mw ~60,000

• CAS: 26100-51-6
• Catalog Number: ACM26100516-10
• Category: 3D Printing Materials for Research and Development
• Molecular Weight: ~60,000 (Mw ~30,000)
• Molecular Formula: (C3H4O2)n
• Description: Polylactic acid is a thermoplastic aliphatic polyester. The lactic acid or lactide required for the production of polylactic acid can be obtained by fermentation, dehydration and purification of renewable resources. The obtained polylactic acid generally has good mechanical and processing properties, and the polylactic acid product can be quickly discarded in various ways. degradation.
• Synonyms: Poly(2-hydroxypropionic acid); Polylactide; PLA
• IUPAC Name: 2-hydroxypropanoic acid
• InChI: 1S/C3H6O3/c1-2(4)3(5)6/h2,4H,1H3,(H,5,6)
• InChI Key: JVTAAEKCZFNVCJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
• Solubility: Solubility in water: miscible
• Appearance: Solid
• Application: They adopt nanometer-scale dimensions, and can be ideal candidates for drug delivery, gene transfection applications.
• Shelf Life: limited shelf life, expiry date on the label
• Storage: Store at 2-8 ℃
• Features And Benefits: Some of the key properties and performance of PLA include biodegradability, renewable and sustainable, versatility, transparency and gloss, mechanical properties, and thermal sensitivity.
• Hazard Statements: H315
• MDL Number: MFCD00081867
• Stability: Stable under recommended storage conditions.
• WGK Germany: 3

Case Study

Synthesis of Polylactic Acid and Its Biological Applications

Li G,et al. Molecules, 2020, 25(21): 5023.

Low toxicity and good biocompatibility are key factors that make polylactic acid popular in the biomedical field.
· Synthesis method of polylactic acid: There are three main synthesis methods of polylactic acid, namely (a) direct condensation polymerization; (b) azeotropic dehydration condensation; (c) lactide ring-opening polymerization. Among them, lactide ring-opening polymerization is one of the methods for industrial production of high molecular weight PLA.
· Biological applications of polylactic acid: Polylactic acid has a wide range of biological applications, such as tissue engineering, drug delivery, implants, and more.

Manufacturing Methods and Applications of PLA-Based Green Composite Materials

Ilyas, R. A., et al. Polymers, 2022, 14(1), 202.

PLA-based natural fiber composite materials have excellent properties such as biodegradability, recyclability, high mechanical strength, low toxicity, good barrier properties, and friendly processing. PLA-based green composite materials have a wide range of applications, including wound treatment and stent applications, drug delivery systems, orthopedics and fixation devices, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, electrical tower components, automobiles, and packaging materials.
Processing of PLA green composite materials
· The mold opening process of PLA green composite materials includes hand layup, spray up, tape layup, filament winding, and the autoclave system.
· The molding process of PLA green composite materials includes compression molding, injection molding and transfer molding.
· Other processing methods include hot pressing, wet impregnation, twin-screw extrusion, etc.

Preparation of Electrically and Thermally Conductive Polymer Composites Based on Polylactic Acid

Lebedev, S. M., et al. Polymer Testing, 2017, 58, 241-248.

To obtain polylactic acid (PLA)-based composites with improved electrical and thermal properties, single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) and natural graphite (G) powder can be introduced as fillers, respectively. Among them, CNT can improve the electrical conductivity, while G powder can improve the thermal conductivity of PLA-based composite materials.
Preparation of PLA Composites
· All composites were prepared by mixing in the measuring mixer 50 EHT with a 55 cm3 mixing chamber.
· The processing temperature and mixing time were 190°C and 15 min. Speed of counter-rotating blades of mixer was changed from 30 rpm to 90 rpm.
· Fillers were gradually introduced into the polymer melt up to the required fraction, while mixing until all fillers were evenly distributed in the matrix. All composites were palletised with the granulator.