LapolŪ
can be purchased as a ready-to-go compounded blend formulated specifically
for the application in a polylactic acid (PLA) base resin. LapolŪ
compounded blends are packaged in 50 lb. bags or in 750 kg cartons and
are sealed metalic bags for moisture protection. Please contact us to discuss the grade of PLA you would like compounded.
LapolŪ Concentrate
LapolŪ can be purchased as a concentrate masterbatch in polylactic acid (PLA) ready to be let down in PLA formulations without the need for additonal compatibilizers. Lapol concentrate is packaged in 25 kg bags or in 750 kg cartons and is sealed in air tight metalic bags for moisture protection. Please contact us to discuss the PLA grade of the base resin to be compounded with LapolŪ.
LapolŪ 108 Viscous Resin
The most efficient and economical way to purchase LapolŪ is as a viscous resin in 5 or 55-gallon drums. LapolŪ is melted much like a hot melt adhesive and is pumped through standard heated pumps and hoses (270° F/130° C) and is accurately metered into the resin compounder. No additional compatibilizers are necessary since LapolŪ is completely miscible with PLA. The LapolŪ processing guide is listed below for downloading.
Hot melt pumps can be evaluated at minimal costs in either 5-gallon or 55-gallon drum sizes for pilot and production lines. This is an economical solution to metering Lapol resin into PLA or polyolefins compounded with starch or other polymers requiring elongation or compatibilzation. The Nordson drum melter product brochures are available for download below. Please contact LapolŪ to arrange a trial of the Nordson drum melter.
The Getting Started guide below is a compilation of all the essential documentation needed to understand how to process and incorporate LapolŪ into your compounder. The PDF file includes the following documents:
Getting Started Introduction to Using LapolŪ
LapolŪ Processing Guidelines
Materials Safety Data Sheets
Nordson Hot Melt Pump Brochures (Bench top, 5 and 55-gallon Units)
The new LapolŪ HDT additive for increasing the heat deflection temperature of PLA is beginning pilot production and will soon be available as a masterbatch pellet or 100% solids. For interested parties, please email us at info@lapol.net to be added to our contact list for commercialization notification.
Product Applications
Injection Molding
LapolŪ resin is very suitable to be added to PLA or polyolefins and starch for injection molding applications. LapolŪ is miscible with PLA and will compatibilize the starch and the polyolefins. LapolŪ is typically added at a 5%-10% loading into injection molding applications depending upon the degree of elongation required by the application. LapolŪ is naturally hydrophilic and possesses a degree of acid functionality; these, together with Lapol's ability to graft onto the backbone of polyolefins such as polypropylene and polyethylene make Lapol a good compatibilizer for starch/polypropylene blends. Use of LapolŪ as a compatibilizer enables high renewable content without sacrificing key properties while lowering costs.
Extrusion Coating
Extrusion
coating over paperboard is a growing market application for biopolymers
as suppliers are striving to provide more environmentally friendly
products. LapolŪ resin can provide the flexibility and adhesion
properties while maintaining melt strength and modulus.
Thermoforming
Biopolymer resins requiring elongation and flexibility in thermoforming applications are suitable for the Lapol bioplasticizer, not only will the elongation and flexibility be improved, but in applications where clarity is required LapolŪ will not significantly increase opacity.
Cast and Blown Film
Cast PLA films have been shown to increase elongation to over 100%
with as little as 5% and 10% addition of LapolŪ bio-derived resin, similar
degrees of elongation require twice as much addition by other
additive polymers. A unique property, however, of the LapolŪ is that the films maintain there modulus whereas other aliphatic/aromatic copolyesters make the films limp and flimsy.
Blown film application results are pending,
but theoretical evaluation indicates that LapolŪ resin would be
beneficial to improving the flexibility and elongation of such films
without sacrificing modulus which is common among other additives.
