High Melt Strength Polylactic Acid

Polylactide or polylactic acid (PLA) is a compostable and biorenewable polyester that has low melt strength and no melt elasticity due to its linear chain structure. This results in problems in applications that require melt extension.

Reaction of PLA with AkzoNobel’s Trigonox® 301 in an extruder, safely dosed to the hot PLA melt, introduces long chain branches and creates high melt strength PLA (HMS-PLA), without gel formation. HMS-PLA exhibits near-unchanged MFI, a broader MWD by long chain branching and an increased melt strength. It also exhibits increased low shear viscosity and shear thinning behavior at higher shear, along with improved melt elasticity.

This technology, patented by AkzoNobel, can be used for PLA foaming, thermoforming, blow molding, extrusion coating, and cast and blown film.

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