The glass-fiber-reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers have greater strength, stiffness, and thermal performance than unmodified PLA. The compounds are fully colorable and have 10% to 40% glass fiber.
The 30% glass-fiber-reinforced PLA grade has tensile strength of 16.5 ksi, nearly twice that of unmodified PLA. Flexural modulus is 1,630 ksi and heat deflection temperature (HDT) is 320°F at 66 psi, 200°F above that of the unmodified version.
Proprietary nucleation packages speed crystallization for quicker part ejection, so injection-molding cycle time is similar to that of PP and ABS.
RTP Co., 580 East Front St., Winona, MN 55987, (507) 454-6900, www.rtpcompany.com