| HS Code | 595847 |
| Product | ecovio FT2341 Blown Film Compostable PLA Compound |
| Manufacturer | BASF |
| Chemical Basis | Copolyester (ecoflex) and polylactic acid (PLA) |
| Grade Type | Blown film grade |
| Processing Method | Blown film extrusion |
| Compostability Certification | Certified compostable according to EN 13432 |
| Density | 1.25 g/cm³ |
| Melt Volume Rate Mvr At 190 C 2 16 Kg | 4.0 cm³/10 min |
| Melting Temperature | 150-160 °C |
| Vicat Softening Temperature | 85-90 °C |
| Tensile Modulus | 1000-1300 MPa |
| Tensile Strength | 30-35 MPa |
| Elongation At Break | 300-400% |
| Dart Drop Impact | 200-250 g |
| Recommended Film Thickness | 10-50 µm |
As an accredited ecovio FT2341 Blown Film Compostable PLA Compound factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Ecovio FT2341 Blown Film Compostable PLA Compound packed in 25 kg moisture-resistant paper bags, palletized and stretch-wrapped. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL container loading for ecovio FT2341 Blown Film Compostable PLA Compound: palletized bags, shrink-wrapped, secured, dry, ventilated, compliant transport. |
| Shipping | Ecovio FT2341 ships as a non-hazardous, moisture-sensitive thermoplastic in original sealed moisture-barrier bags or octabins, palletized and secured. Keep dry, cool, out of direct sunlight; avoid humidity, heat, contamination, and strong odors. Do not stack excessively. Follow the SDS and applicable transport regulations. Handle carefully to prevent package damage. |
| Storage | Store ecovio FT2341 Blown Film Compostable PLA Compound in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, heat, and ignition sources. Keep original containers tightly sealed to prevent moisture absorption. Maintain temperatures below 30°C and low humidity. Use first-in, first-out stock rotation. Avoid prolonged storage near incompatible materials, and protect bags from damage, crushing, or contamination. |
| Shelf Life | Store dry, below 30°C, protected from moisture and UV; shelf life is 12 months in unopened packaging when stored properly. |
Production of organic waste bin liners from ecovio FT2341 is defined by a narrow moisture boundary rather than by screw speed. The granulate must be pre-dried in a desiccant-air hopper at 70–80 °C for 4–6 h until residual moisture measured by ISO 15512:2019 falls to ≤0.05 wt%; converters running at ambient relative humidity above 60% in the mixing area commonly extend drying to 6 h because PLA-phase hydrolysis generates acetic acid odour and bubble pinholes. On a 55–65 mm monolayer blown film extruder with an L/D ratio of 30:1, the melt temperature profile from feed to die is kept at 165–185 °C, with the adapter and die zone not exceeding 185 °C to suppress lactide reformation and gel formation. Die gap is set at 1.0–1.4 mm, blow-up ratio at 2.8:1–3.5:1, and frost line height at 2–4 die diameters; these parameters align MD and TD tear resistance for wet food waste loading. The finished liner is typically down-gauged to 12–20 µm, but below 14 µm the MD Elmendorf tear value under ASTM D1922-15 falls below the 200–250 mN range when the bubble is operated at a BUR below 3.0. The film is passed through a corona treater at 38–42 mN/m only if printing is required, because excessive surface oxidation increases blocking on reel cores. Certification is governed by EN 13432, which requires ≥90% disintegrated solids after 12 weeks and ≥90% ultimate biodegradation within 6 months under controlled composting at 58 °C, plus ecotoxicity testing under OECD 208. For home-compostable caddy liners, TÜV OK compost Home criteria are applied, often with thickness limits at or below 20 µm to avoid incomplete disintegration in static backyard piles.
Retail carrier bag conversion from FT2341 is not a drop-in replacement for HDPE on high-stalk lines. The compound produces a lower melt-pressure envelope at the die because of the PBAT fraction, so the bubble must be stabilised by a low frost line and an air ring pressure between 20–35 mbar, not by high melt temperature. A 0.8–1.2 mm die gap is used, and the BUR is set at 3.0:1–4.0:1 to bias orientation toward TD tensile strength. At 20 µm gauge, side-gusset and bottom-seal carrier bags are sealed on hot bars at 130–160 °C, with jaw pressure of 200–400 kPa and dwell of 0.3–0.8 s; seal strength is specified at ≥8 N/15 mm under ASTM F88/F88M-15. Pre-drying remains mandatory at 70 °C for 4 h and residual moisture ≤0.05 wt%. The film enters the haul-off at a nip speed of 15–30 m/min on standard lines; higher outputs require a dual-lip air ring because the low melt strength at die temperatures above 190 °C induces bubble breathing. Pigment masterbatches should be limited to 2–5 wt% and selected from PLA/PBAT-compatible carriers; mineral-filled masterbatches above 3 wt% reduce tear strength enough to fail carrier bag perforation testing. The end product is certified under EN 13432 and can carry the OK compost Home label, but only if all printing inks and adhesives used in the bag are also individually certified as home-compostable.
| Application | Die gap (mm) | Blow-up ratio | Melt profile (°C) | Typical gauge (µm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organic waste liners | 1.0–1.4 | 2.8:1–3.5:1 | 165–185 | 12–20 |
| Retail carrier bags | 0.8–1.2 | 3.0:1–4.0:1 | 170–190 | 20–50 |
| Agricultural mulch | 1.2–1.6 | 2.5:1–3.0:1 | 160–180 | 15–25 |
| E-commerce mailers | 1.0–1.4 | 2.8:1–3.5:1 | 175–190 | 35–60 |
| Produce packaging | 0.9–1.3 | 2.5:1–3.2:1 | 165–180 | 18–30 |
Agricultural mulch film produced from FT2341 is not automatically equivalent to soil-biodegradable grades; the compostability certificate under EN 13432 applies to compost conditions, not field soil. If the film is intended as a soil-biodegradable mulch under EN 17033, validation through ISO 17556:2019 soil respiration and ecotoxicity screening is required, and published data for this specific grade in soil burial should be confirmed before commercial claim. The converter can process FT2341 at 15–25 µm using a die gap of 1.2–1.6 mm and BUR of 2.5:1–3.0:1; the narrower BUR improves layflat uniformity for mulch laying equipment but reduces TD tear resistance. Black masterbatch is added at 3–6 wt%; above 6 wt%, carbon black agglomerates nucleate PLA and create die-lip deposits that appear as surface specks every 3–5 m of film. The frost line is set lower than bag film to maintain opacity; an irradiated or air-cooled die lip is preferred because carbon black absorbs heat. Drip tapes and planting holes are introduced at the slitting station; hole punching is performed at 20–30 °C film surface temperature to prevent elongation beyond 3% of hole diameter. The melt temperature in the die is held at 160–180 °C; higher temperature creates pinholes because PLA viscosity drops and the bubble thins locally. For organic farming use, the product must also meet REACH registration for any added carbon black, UV stabilisers, or processing aids; many standard HDPE processing aids are not compliant with compostability, so only approved bio-based slip masterbatches are used.
E-commerce mailer conversion uses FT2341 at 35–60 µm because the PBAT phase contributes puncture extension that prevents shard or corner punctures in transit. A 45 mm extruder with L/D 30:1 and a dual-lip air ring is typically run at 175–190 °C melt profile, with the die gap at 1.0–1.4 mm and BUR at 2.8:1–3.5:1. The sealing rib on the mailer flap is formed by impulse sealing at 150–165 °C for 0.5–1.0 s; the hot-tack force must exceed 4 N/15 mm immediately after jaw opening or the flap springs back during automated insertion. Puncture resistance is tested under ASTM D5748-19; typical values fall in the 25–40 N range at 50 µm, but the value drops steeply when gauge is reduced below 35 µm because the PLA phase contributes limited plastic deformation. The surface is modified with 500–1500 ppm erucamide slip masterbatch and 2000–5000 ppm mineral antiblock only if the mailer line uses high-friction polyurethane rollers; excessive antiblock reduces solvent-based ink adhesion. Printing on the outer surface requires corona treatment at 36–40 mN/m, measured with a dyne pen within 30 min of treatment due to migration of low-molecular-weight PBAT fractions. The finished mailer is certified under EN 13432 only if the adhesive label insert and any tamper-evident tape are also compostable; many pressure-sensitive adhesives fail disintegration limits, so converters specify home-compostable adhesives tested under AS 5810 or TÜV OK compost Home.
FT2341 is applied to fresh produce and bakery film at 18–30 µm where moisture vapour transmission, not oxygen barrier, controls shelf-life. The compound's water vapour transmission at 20 µm is closer to cellulose hydrate than to oriented polypropylene, so condensation is managed by an anti-fog additive system rather than by desiccation. Anti-fog masterbatch is let down at 1–3 wt%; above 3 wt% the surface energy rises above 42 mN/m and the film blocks so severely on the reel that unwind tension variations exceed 15 N on automatic flow-wrap feed rollers. The hot-bar sealing temperature is reduced to 125–150 °C because anti-fog esters migrate to the seal interface and lower the seal initiation threshold; dwell is held to 0.2–0.5 s to limit melt flow into the seal ribs. Gas flushing lines that require heat-seal integrity after CO₂ flush must verify seal strength under ASTM F88/F88M-15 because the plasticising effect of anti-fog on PBAT can reduce burst strength of sealed bags by 10–20%. OTR under ASTM D3985-17 remains high relative to EVOH or PVdC, so the film is not suitable for oxygen-sensitive produce unless laminated or coated; published data for FT2341 in multilayer structures with a compostable barrier coating are limited. End products include bread bags, salad clamshell overwrap, and mushroom bags; each requires a separate compliance verification under EU 10/2011 if food contact is claimed, because overall migration must remain below 10 mg/dm² in olive-oil simulant D2 and the specific release of any degradation products must be below detection limits.
Secondary packaging and protective transit wrap from FT2341 are produced at the highest line speeds but with the lowest specification pressure. Typical films are 30–80 µm, die gap 1.0–1.6 mm, BUR 2.5:1–3.0:1, melt profile 170–185 °C, and residual moisture ≤0.05 wt%. The compound is used where softness prevents scratching of painted or lacquered components; the film's Vicat softening temperature under ISO 306/A50 is near 55–60 °C, so storage in unventilated containers above 45 °C develops blocking and loss of roll edge profile. Low-density protective tubes and corner profiles are made by collapsing the bubble and centre-winding with differential shaft tension below 0.2 N/mm; higher tension creates permanent MD elongation because the PBAT phase has a low yield point. The film can be printed with water-based inks after corona treatment at 38–42 mN/m, but screen tension on solvent-based flexo units is limited to 80–120 N/800 mm to prevent web creep. Amine-based stabilisers should be avoided because amine functionality accelerates PLA transesterification and odour formation. The final packaging is not necessarily home-compostable; if the end user claims compostability, the entire construction including tape, labels, and stretch bands must meet EN 13432. The material should not be used for hot-fill, retort, or continuous service above 50 °C, and exposure to high concentrations of lactic-acid-containing moist products will accelerate hydrolysis beyond the intended service envelope.
| Application | Primary standard | Threshold requirement | Test method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compostable bags (EU) | EN 13432 | ≥90% disintegration after 12 weeks; ≥90% biodegradation in 6 months | ISO 14855-1:2012, OECD 208 |
| Compostable bags (US) | ASTM D6400-19 | ≥90% carbon conversion within 180 days; disintegration ≥90% | ASTM D5338-15 |
| Soil-biodegradable mulch | EN 17033 | ≥90% soil biodegradation within 2 years; no ecotoxic effect | ISO 17556:2019, ISO 11268-2 |
| Food-contact film (EU) | EU 10/2011 | Overall migration < 10 mg/dm²; specific migration limits by additive | EN 1186-1, EN 13130-1 |
| Home compost claim | TÜV OK compost Home / NF T51-800 | Disintegration at 20–30 °C within 12 months | Respirometric test at ambient |
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Introduced as a blown film compound, ecovio FT2341 is a formulation of polylactic acid (PLA) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) in which the PBAT phase functions as an impact and tear modifier without eliminating industrial compostability. The grade is characterized by a melt volume-flow rate of 4.0 cm³/10 min at 190 °C/2.16 kg under ISO 1133-1:2022 and a density of approximately 1.25 g/cm³ under ISO 1183-1:2019. It is used in organic waste collection bags, lightweight carrier bags, secondary packaging, and short-service-life food packaging where EN 13432 or ASTM D6400 certification is a tender requirement. Supplied as cylindrical granules, the compound is designed for conventional single-screw blown film lines with a grooved feed section, a 25–30 L/D barrier screw, and a spiral mandrel die.
Pre-drying is mandatory rather than advisory. A dehumidifying hopper dryer set to 60–80 °C for 2–4 h reduces granulate moisture to below 0.1%; above that level, hydrolytic cleavage of the PLA ester linkages reduces melt viscosity and produces bubble instability and pinholes. Barrel temperatures are typically profiled from 150–160 °C in the feed zone to 165–175 °C in the metering zone, while die temperature is held at 175–190 °C. Melt temperature measured immediately before the breaker plate should not exceed 200 °C. Residence time above 200 °C accelerates thermal degradation, generating gel particles and acrid volatile compounds that deposit on the die lip.
Unmodified PLA film resins with a suitable melt index generally exhibit a narrow processing window because their low melt elasticity cannot resist bubble necking and frost-line sag at blow-up ratios above 2.0. The PBAT phase in ecovio FT2341 increases melt elasticity and shear thinning, allowing stable operation at blow-up ratios of 2.0–3.0 on standard air-cooled blown film lines. Films of 20–35 µm produced from the compound retain adequate tear propagation and dart impact without orientation; unmodified PLA at the same thickness typically fails brittle fracture during bag filling. Comparative data should be generated on the same die and air ring because tensile and tear results are sensitive to gauge variation, frost-line height, and draw ratio.
At the frost line, the PBAT-rich dispersed phase solidifies later than the PLA matrix, which extends the tacky region and allows molecular orientation to set before crystallization is quenched. If the frost line is set below 2 die diameters, excessive MD orientation increases dart impact variability and lowers Elmendorf tear strength under ISO 6383-2:2020. If the frost line exceeds 4 die diameters, bubble sag and gauge bands become more frequent. The working window therefore depends on die diameter and throughput; a production line running a 250 mm die at 80–120 kg/h may require a frost line near 3 die diameters, but that set point must be validated by online gauge scanning.
Moisture uptake during silo or hopper storage remains a recurring bottleneck on production lines. At relative humidity above 50% and ambient temperature above 25 °C, surface moisture adsorption can double the required drying time and increase lot-to-lot variation in melt pressure. Processors commonly use hopper loaders with dry-air purge, avoid open hoppers during shift changes, and verify granulate moisture by ISO 15512:2019 before startup. The film bubble should be run with a die gap of 0.8–1.2 mm for films between 20 and 50 µm; narrower die gaps raise melt shear and viscous heating, while wider die gaps reduce melt uniformity across the die circumference.
Screw speed is limited by shear heating rather than motor load. Because PLA is shear-sensitive, a screw speed that produces a melt temperature 5–10 °C above the set point can create gel particles and die-lip deposits within 30–60 min. Screens of 60–120 mesh are inserted to remove degraded fragments and raise head pressure, but excessive screen pack restriction increases residence time and worsens thermal degradation. Dies should be cleaned with purging compounds compatible with compostable polyester; conventional polyolefin purges may leave non-compostable residues that contaminate subsequent film lots.
The compound’s rheological response is shear-thinning, with a melt viscosity lower than PBAT-rich blown film grades but higher than PLA injection grades. A 25–30 L/D single-screw extruder with a compression ratio of 2.5–3.0 and a grooved feed section provides sufficient melting homogeneity. Barrier screws with a Maddock mixing section are preferred over general-purpose screws because the PBAT and PLA phases must be recompacted after pellet melting; inadequate mixing produces visible melt-streak defects in thin films. Die lip fouling is caused primarily by low-molecular-weight PLA oligomers that migrate to the die lip under pressure, oxidize, and crosslink into amber deposits. Maintaining die-lip temperature at the lower end of the 175–190 °C range reduces deposition but may increase melt pressure.
Grooved feed sections provide positive conveying at high screw speeds but can generate excessive frictional heat if the barrel is not cooled in the feed zone. The first barrel zone is often water-cooled to 40–60 °C to prevent premature melting and pellet bridging. A barrier screw with a Maddock mixing section distributes the PBAT-rich phase; if a general-purpose screw is used, melt streaks and die lines may appear at thicknesses below 20 µm. In production trials, die pressure is typically maintained between 150 and 250 bar; higher pressures indicate screen blockage or insufficient melt temperature, while low pressures suggest excessive melt temperature or worn screw elements.
| Parameter | Range | Equipment or measurement note |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-drying temperature | 60–80 °C | Dehumidifying dryer, dew point ≤ −40 °C |
| Granulate moisture after drying | <0.1% | ISO 15512:2019 |
| Feed zone temperature | 150–160 °C | Grooved feed section |
| Metering zone temperature | 165–175 °C | Barrier screw |
| Die temperature | 175–190 °C | Spiral mandrel die |
| Melt temperature | ≤200 °C | Melt probe before breaker plate |
| Blow-up ratio | 2.0–3.0 | Air-cooled bubble |
| Frost-line height | 2–4 die diameters | Adjust to control orientation |
| Die gap | 0.8–1.2 mm | For 20–50 µm film |
Certification under EN 13432:2000 or ASTM D6400-19 requires a minimum of 90% biodegradation of individual components relative to microcrystalline cellulose within 180 days under controlled industrial composting conditions. Disintegration testing requires that no more than 10% of dry mass remains on a 2 mm sieve after 12 weeks in EN 13432, and the resulting compost must meet plant growth and ecotoxicity criteria according to OECD 208. These conditions are based on thermophilic pile temperatures above 55 °C, which are not present in most home composting bins. ecovio FT2341 is not automatically certified for home compost under NFT 51-800 or AS 5810; end-product certification is required where household compostability is claimed.
Heavy-metal limits and volatile solids content are regulated through the same standards; compostable film converters must ensure that printing inks, adhesives, and masterbatch carriers also comply with EN 13432 or ASTM D6400. A non-compostable polyethylene carrier masterbatch at 5 wt% can be sufficient to jeopardize certification because the final product is assessed as a whole. Likewise, silicone processing aids that are not certified compostable may leave non-biodegradable residues, so processing aids must be selected from grades with written compostability documentation.
Comparative evaluation of ecovio FT2341 against unmodified PLA or PBAT-rich film grades must be conducted on the same die, at the same blow-up ratio, and at the same frost-line height. A tensile elongation value measured on a 30 µm film produced with a 250 mm die and a blow-up ratio of 2.5 cannot be extrapolated to a 600 mm die because cooling rate, draw ratio, and residence time differ. Under ISO 527-3:2018, the reported tensile modulus and elongation are influenced by sample thickness and conditioning at 23 °C and 50% relative humidity. Tear resistance measured by ISO 6383-2:2020 and dart impact measured by ISO 7765-1:2021 are more indicative of field performance for organic waste bags than tensile modulus alone.
At thicknesses above 50 µm, the cooling capacity of the air ring becomes the limiting factor because PLA crystallizes slowly and retains heat. A dual-lip air ring with chilled inlet air at 10–20 °C and moderate airflow is typically used to stabilize the bubble. Online thickness gauges should be calibrated for a film density of 1.25 g/cm³ rather than LDPE density, otherwise gravimetric yield and thickness readings deviate by approximately 10%.
ecovio FT2341 is not intended as a direct substitute for high-clarity biaxially oriented PLA films. The presence of PBAT reduces optical clarity and barrier performance but provides ductility and melt strength. Relative to high-bio-based PLA homopolymer film grades, the compound sacrifices some stiffness and clarity for improved tear resistance and broader blown film processing. Relative to PBAT-rich compounds, it offers higher stiffness and a higher renewable carbon fraction, but lower elongation at break and tear propagation resistance. The choice between ecovio FT2341 and a PBAT-rich film grade is often driven by the amount of bio-based content requested in purchasing specifications and the expected puncture environment.
| Attribute / test method | ecovio FT2341 | Unmodified PLA film grade | PBAT-rich film grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile modulus, ISO 527-3:2018 | intermediate | high | low |
| Tear propagation, ISO 6383-2:2020 | intermediate | low | high |
| Dart impact, ISO 7765-1:2021 | intermediate | low | high |
| Bubble stability at blow-up ratio 2.0–3.0 | broad | narrow | broad |
| Renewable carbon fraction, EN 16640 | intermediate | high | low to moderate |
| Industrial compostability | EN 13432/ASTM D6400 | EN 13432/ASTM D6400 | EN 13432/ASTM D6400 |
Material incompatibilities must be addressed before production. Do not combine ecovio FT2341 with polyethylene carrier masterbatches, amine-based antistatic agents, or non-compostable slip additives unless the supplier provides documentary evidence of compostability under EN 13432 or ASTM D6400. Some acid-functional pigments and metal stearates can accelerate hydrolytic degradation or cause melt instability; pilot extrusion is recommended before line-scale introduction. Storage of unopened granules should be in sealed containers at temperatures below 30 °C and relative humidity below 50%, and finished film should be packaged in sealed polyethylene outer bags to prevent moisture absorption before conversion.
Three-layer coextrusion is used when the outer surface requires higher modulus or when the core requires PBAT-rich toughness. ecovio FT2341 functions as the skin layer in such structures because it provides modulus and surface quality. Tie-layer chemistry is not required because the polyester-based layers adhere at melt temperatures above 170 °C. However, published data for specific coextruded structures containing ecovio FT2341 remains limited, so peel adhesion under ISO 11339:2022 and dart impact under ISO 7765-1:2021 must be validated on the production line before commercial approval.
