PLA stands for polylactic acid or polylactide. Polylactic acid or polylactide is the name for thermoplastic polymers of lactic acid. They are often referred to by the abbreviation PLA (from polylactic acid). They are biodegradable, biocompatible and are made from renewable plant-based raw materials (corn starch or sugar cane). PLA can be processed by injection moulding, foil blowing, extrusion, vacuum forming, extrusion blow moulding and strech blow moulding. Main applications are packaging, medical, textiles and electronics.
Expandable PLA Foam : Molded foam panel based on PLA. Research from Wageningen University & Research was crucial in making PLA foams available as an alternative to fossil foams (i.e. EPS, polystyrene-based pearl foams) in various applications, such as packaging and as insulation material in construction.
What’s next
In packaging, biofoam is already available as a commerciable product as an alternative to EPS. In the build environment, biofoam is expected to be available soon as a commercial product.