Dutch bioplastics specialist Purac (Gorinchem; www.purac.com) has started offering interested companies samples of its poly lactic acid (PLA) resins to allow them to evaluate the performance benefits of its “Puralact” lactide-based PLA portfolio. Thanks to a heat resistance of up to 120°C, the resins are particularly suitable for applications in the consumer electronics, high-heat packaging and automotive markets, among others.

The range on offer by Purac includes PLLA and PDLA homopolymer resins with high stereochemical purity as well as PLA compounded blends, containing both PLLA and PDLA homopolymers. The Dutch company said the PLLA portfolio is available in a range of viscosities and developed specifically for film extrusion, thermoforming, film blowing, fibre spinning, compounding and injection moulding applications. The PDLA range, by contrast, is available as a nucleating agent for PLLA homopolymers, and when combined yields a compound suitable for injection moulding or thermoforming that boasts both excellent heat performance and also reduces processing cycle time, Purac said. As for the PLA compounded blends, the Dutch group said it developed these specifically with injection moulding and extrusion processing in mind, adding that the blends’ heat performance resembles that of PS, PP and ABS.