| HS Code | 587890 |
| Materialtype | Polylactic Acid (PLA) |
| Transparency | Transparent |
| Density | 1.24 g/cm³ |
| Meltflowindex 190c 2 16kg | 6 g/10 min |
| Meltingtemperature | 150-170 °C |
| Glasstransitiontemperature | 55-60 °C |
| Tensilemodulus | 3500 MPa |
| Tensilestrength | 50 MPa |
| Elongationatbreak | 5 % |
| Flexuralmodulus | 3500 MPa |
| Flexuralstrength | 80 MPa |
| Notchedcharpyimpactstrength | 2 kJ/m² |
| Unnotchedcharpyimpactstrength | 20 kJ/m² |
| Heatdeflectiontemperature 0 45mpa | 55 °C |
| Vicatsofteningtemperature | 55 °C |
| Biobasedcontent | 100 % |
| Compostability | Industrial compostable |
As an accredited Natureplast PLE 001 Transparent Extrusion/Thermoforming Polylactic Acid factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Natureplast PLE 001 is packed in 25 kg sealed aluminum-lined bags, palletized, protecting transparent PLA pellets for extrusion and thermoforming. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL container loading: Natureplast PLE 001 transparent extrusion/thermoforming polylactic acid, palletized, moisture-protected, and securely stowed for safe transport. |
| Shipping | Natureplast PLE 001 ships as non-hazardous, solid polylactic acid pellets in sealed moisture-barrier bags or drums. No special transport classification is required. Keep dry, cool, and out of direct sunlight; reseal opened containers to prevent moisture absorption. Follow supplier SDS and local shipping regulations. |
| Storage | Store Natureplast PLE 001 in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, heat, and ignition sources. Keep containers tightly closed to prevent moisture absorption. Maintain below 30°C (86°F) and low humidity. Avoid acids, bases, and strong oxidizers. Use original, sealed, moisture-barrier packaging; reseal after opening. Follow shelf life and rotate stock. Ensure good ventilation and inspect containers regularly. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life: 12 months in original unopened packaging, stored cool, dry, and protected from moisture, heat, and direct sunlight. |
The conversion sequence for vented berry punnets begins with pellet drying in a desiccant-bed dryer delivering a dew point of -40 °C and an outlet temperature of 80 °C for 4 h. Residual moisture is held below 250 ppm as verified by ISO 15512:2019; higher water content hydrolyzes the PLA backbone in the extruder and reduces melt strength enough to produce sheet grammage variation exceeding ±5%. Melt flow rate is checked on each lot under ISO 1133-1:2022 at 190 °C and 2.16 kg; drift outside the supplier certificate range indicates lot-to-lot variability in drawdown and thermoforming sag. A single-screw extruder with 36:1 L/D, vacuum venting, and barrel temperatures from 175 °C to 205 °C delivers melt at 190 ± 5 °C into a coat-hanger sheet die with a lip gap of 0.8 mm. Water-quenched polishing rolls at 50 °C freeze the amorphous structure and suppress spherulitic haze; the resulting 0.25 mm sheet is reheated to 95 ± 5 °C surface temperature in a dual-side infrared oven. Forming is limited to a draw ratio of 1.8:1 because deeper draws localize stress at the base corners and produce flange whitening. Punnet sidewall floor thickness must not fall below 0.10 mm, otherwise puncture resistance measured by ASTM F1306-19 is compromised. The formulation is 80% virgin PLE 001 pellets plus 20% dry regrind from the skeletal web; regrind above 20% raises haze beyond 6% measured by ASTM D1003-21. Food-contact status in Europe is judged under EU Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 Annex I overall migration limit of 10 mg/dm²; in the United States, the manufacturer’s Food Contact Notification governs the exact use conditions. The end product is a transparent berry punnet with a hinge-compatible flange, suitable for industrial composting under EN 13432:2000.
Cold-chain dairy and in-store bakery clamshell formats impose a different stress map than punnets because the hinge remains live during repeated open-close cycles at 4 °C. The PLE 001 sheet is extruded at 0.30 mm gauge on a 90 mm single-screw extruder with 33:1 L/D, barrel profile 170–195 °C, and a fixed lip gap of 1.0 mm. The roll stack is set to 45 °C exit web temperature to minimize blocking while keeping the sheet below the cold-crystallization onset. Formulation for deli clamshells is 85% virgin resin and 15% recycled edge trim; crystallinity of the regrind must be below 5% or the hinge whitens after 10 flexural cycles. Thermoforming is conducted on a shuttle-type contact heater at 100 ± 5 °C surface temperature; the mold surface is held at 30 °C. The cavity draw ratio is limited to 1.5:1, with minimum wall thickness 0.12 mm. Food-contact compliance is restricted to aqueous, acidic, and dry solid fillings below 40 °C; high-fat fillings above 5% oil may exceed specific migration expectations under EU 10/2011 if not validated. The terminal product is a hinged two-cavity clamshell for 125 g deli portions, with overall migration measured below 10 mg/dm² in 10% ethanol and 3% acetic acid simulants per EN 1186. Cold-chain toughness is not sufficiently verified by tensile data alone; hinge performance is checked by a 90° repeated bend test at 4 °C to failure beyond 25 cycles.
Across the first three downstream routes, the sheet extrusion and forming parameters separate by gauge, draw ratio, and regrind allowance as follows.
| Downstream conversion condition | Berry punnet | Deli clamshell | Blisters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adapter melt temperature | 190 ± 5 °C | 195 ± 5 °C | 190 ± 5 °C |
| Extruder L/D ratio | 36:1 | 33:1 | 30:1 |
| Die lip gap | 0.8 mm | 1.0 mm | 1.2 mm |
| Sheet thickness | 0.25 mm | 0.30 mm | 0.35 mm |
| Thermoforming surface temperature | 95 ± 5 °C | 100 ± 5 °C | 105 ± 5 °C |
| Maximum draw ratio | 1.8:1 | 1.5:1 | 1.4:1 |
| Virgin/regrind ratio | 80:20 | 85:15 | 90:10 |
Trapped-blister packaging for cosmetics and small electronic accessories uses a paperboard backing card and a heat-sealed transparent blister. In this configuration, PLE 001 amorphous sheet is extruded at 0.35 mm thickness through a die lip gap of 1.2 mm; the polished three-roll stack is maintained at 55 °C to preserve low haze. The sealing flange temperature is the critical process threshold. PLA softens above 60 °C as indicated by ISO 306 Vicat softening temperature, so heat-seal dies must apply 120–140 °C for 0.8–1.2 s at 3 bar to bond coated paperboard without deforming the flange; exceeding 150 °C collapses the blister sidewall. Formulation uses 90% virgin resin and 10% closed-loop regrind; this lower regrind fraction maintains flange clarity and reduces pinhole formation. The terminal product is a non-food cosmetic blister with hang-hole and tear slit. REACH compliance for the finished article is verified through absence of SVHCs in the final assembly; RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU is not triggered unless the packaged item is electrical/electronic, but packaging moisture vapor transmission is measured by ISO 15106-2. Published data for this specific combination of PLE 001 with pressure-sensitive paperboard coatings is limited; sealing trials against each card lot are required before production approval.
On high-output pressure-forming lines producing 300–500 mL transparent cold beverage cups, the extrusion and forming parameters are narrowed by sidewall clarity and rim stiffness. The PLE 001 pellet is dried to 200 ppm residual moisture using a wheel dryer with –50 °C dew point. A 120 mm extruder with 36:1 L/D and melt pump delivers melt at 195 ± 5 °C through a 1.4 mm die gap; the web is drawn to 0.40 mm thickness. Chill-roll exit temperature is 40 °C to handle thick web without inducing visible crystallinity. Cup forming uses a 28-cavity pressure former; sheet surface temperature is 105 ± 5 °C, because below 100 °C the rim curl develops stress cracks and above 115 °C haze measured by ASTM D1003-21 appears from cold crystallization. A draw ratio up to 2.5:1 is allowed for straight-wall cups, but the bottom corner radius must remain above 3 mm to avoid thickness reduction below 0.12 mm. The material composition is 80% virgin PLE 001 and 20% dry cup trim; regrind above 20% reduces top-load strength at 23 °C. The terminal product is a 473 mL cup for iced beverages. Compliance for disposable cold cups under EU 10/2011 is limited to aqueous simulants; hot-fill above 50 °C is excluded because cup volume shrinkage exceeds 1% and sidewall buckling occurs.
Across the previous routes, the repeated compliance and test designations consolidate as follows.
| Compliance or test area | Standard or reference | Application-bound condition specified |
|---|---|---|
| Food-contact migration | EU Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 Annex I | Overall migration 10 mg/dm² for aqueous and acidic foods below 40 °C |
| Industrial compostability | EN 13432:2000 | Disintegration ≥90% in 12 weeks, biodegradation ≥90% in 180 days |
| Haze and light transmission | ASTM D1003-21 | Haze below 5–6% at 0.25–0.35 mm sheet thickness |
| Residual moisture | ISO 15512:2019 | Feed-throat moisture less than 250 ppm to prevent hydrolysis |
| Notched impact strength | ISO 179-1:2023 | Tray impact 6 kJ/m² at 23 °C for 15% regrind maximum |
Non-sterile diagnostic and laboratory device trays require dimensional stability during automated filling, but they do not require the microbiological barrier validation of ISO 11607. The PLE 001 sheet for this application is extruded at 0.50 mm gauge with a die lip gap of 1.6 mm and a cooling roll temperature of 35 °C. Higher sheet thickness increases the infrared reheat time to 8–12 s depending on heater wattage; the sheet surface temperature is maintained at 100 ± 5 °C before forming. Use of 15% dry regrind by weight is permissible because the trays are not optically inspected to clinical standards; beyond 15%, the notched impact strength of the formed tray drops under ISO 179-1:2023 to values below 6 kJ/m² at 23 °C and 2 kJ/m² at 4 °C. The cavity design avoids sharp internal corners by maintaining a minimum radius of 1.5 mm; the tray base is dimpled to improve stiffness without increasing draw ratio above 1.2:1. Compliance is driven by REACH for chemical content; if the tray is integrated into an IVD kit, the kit-level obligations under EU IVDR 2017/746 apply to the finished device, not to the resin itself. The terminal product is a transparent tray insert for laboratory collection tubes. Published data for the specific PLE 001 grade under automated lid application torque is limited; lid film compatibility must be tested on the tray flange.
Contact-plate preheating changes the surface heating profile of extruded PLA sheet compared with infrared ovens, and this is exploited for cosmetic display inserts where flat front faces must remain optically clear. Extruded PLE 001 sheet at 0.20 mm is heated between polished aluminium plates at 90 °C for 6 s; the plate contact suppresses surface cooling and allows forming at a bulk temperature of 85–90 °C. Formulation is 100% virgin resin for the visible substrate because any regrind speck increases ASTM D1003-21 haze above 5%. The thermoforming tool uses female cavities with a draw ratio of 1.3:1 and polished chrome mold temperature 20 °C; release is aided by a silicone-free external misting system because silicone surface films can transfer to cosmetic packaging and are rejected by filling-line inspections. The terminal product is a clear tray insert for 30-mL cosmetic jars or lipstick components. Cosmetic brand owners require that the insert not contribute to the cosmetic formula; packaging migration is assessed through the finished product safety report under EU Regulation (EU) No 1223/2009, while direct food-contact certification is not applicable. The operational boundary is that formed inserts must not be stored above 40 °C or observable shrinkage up to 0.5% occurs after 48 h.
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Natureplast PLE 001 Transparent Extrusion/Thermoforming Polylactic Acid is an unfilled polylactic acid grade supplied in pellet form for clear sheet extrusion and subsequent roll-fed or cut-sheet thermoforming. The grade is differentiated within the Natureplast portfolio by the designation PLE 001, which identifies a transparent extrusion/thermoforming rheology rather than a high-flow injection-moulding product or an impact-modified opaque compound. Because the formulation contains no mineral nucleating agent and no elastomeric impact modifier, the material retains optical clarity through melt processing; class-level total luminous transmittance at 1 mm section thickness is reported above 90 % under ASTM D1003. The lower melt flow index range typical of extrusion PLA, 2–10 g/10 min at 210 °C/2.16 kg under ISO 1133-1:2022, provides melt strength for sheet take-off. The material is intended for thin-gauge transparent packaging applications, provided that the converter validates food-contact status, composting behaviour, and lot-specific mechanical properties on the final formed article. Published data for the specific PLE 001 grade may be limited to the supplier’s certificate of analysis; the class-level data below do not replace lot-specific verification.
| Property | Test Method | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|
| Melt flow index | ISO 1133-1:2022 (210 °C, 2.16 kg) | 2–10 g/10 min |
| Density | ISO 1183-1:2019 | 1.24–1.26 g/cm³ |
| Tensile stress at yield | ISO 527-2:2012 | 55–65 MPa |
| Tensile modulus | ISO 527-2:2012 | 3000–3500 MPa |
| Flexural modulus | ISO 178:2019 | 3000–3500 MPa |
| Notched Izod impact | ISO 180:2019 | 2.0–3.5 kJ/m² |
| Heat deflection temperature | ISO 75-2:2013 at 0.45 MPa | 50–60 °C |
| Vicat softening temperature | ISO 306:2022, A50 | 55–65 °C |
| Total luminous transmittance | ASTM D1003 at 1 mm | 90–94 % |
| Haze | ASTM D1003 at 1 mm | <5 % |
| Residual moisture before processing | ISO 15512:2019 | <250 ppm |
The main differentiator is rheological control. Injection-moulding PLA grades are typically characterised by melt flow indices of 15–30 g/10 min at 210 °C/2.16 kg under ISO 1133-1:2022; these high-flow products reduce injection pressure and fill thin-wall moulds, but they exhibit excessive sag and low melt strength in sheet extrusion. Extrusion/thermoforming PLA such as PLE 001 occupies a lower melt flow index window of 2–10 g/10 min; the higher melt viscosity and more pronounced shear-thinning behaviour support gauge uniformity between the die and the chill-roll nip. Impact-modified PLA compounds achieve notched Izod impact values above 10 kJ/m² under ISO 180:2019 by dispersing elastomeric domains, but those domains act as light-scattering centres and increase haze. Mineral-filled opaque PLA grades can exceed 4.0 GPa flexural modulus under ISO 178:2019, but their opacity makes them unsuitable for transparent clamshell or window packaging. The unfilled transparent class of PLA retains total luminous transmittance above 90 % and haze below 5 % at 1 mm under ASTM D1003, at the cost of low notched impact resistance and a service temperature ceiling governed by the amorphous phase heat deflection temperature of 50–60 °C at 0.45 MPa under ISO 75-2:2013.
Incoming lots should be inspected for melt flow index by ISO 1133-1:2022, moisture by ISO 15512:2019, and pellet contamination. A shift in melt flow index of more than 2 g/10 min between lots may require adjustment of barrel temperature or screw speed to maintain sheet gauge stability. Pellet drying should be validated by measuring residual moisture directly, not by time alone, because hopper conditions and atmospheric humidity alter drying rate. The resin is hydrolytically sensitive; storage in an uncontrolled environment above 60 % RH before drying increases moisture adsorption and may extend the required drying time.
Moisture control is the primary processing risk. PLA undergoes hydrolytic chain scission through ester bond cleavage when the melt contains residual moisture above 250 ppm. The feedstock should be predried in a desiccant dryer with air dew point no higher than -40 °C, air temperature of 80 °C, and residence time of 4 h. On a single-screw extruder of L/D 24:1 to 30:1, a barrier screw with compression ratio of 2.5:1 to 3.0:1 is used; barrel temperatures are profiled from 170 °C near the feed throat to 200 °C at the metering section and adaptor/die. Melt temperature should remain between 185 °C and 210 °C. Exposure above 230 °C accelerates random chain scission, generating lactide deposits at the die lip, yellowing, and a measurable rise in melt flow index under ISO 1133-1:2022. Production-scale sheet extrusion has associated surface bubbles and haze with moisture levels above 300 ppm, especially when dried regrind is not blended uniformly.
| Processing Stage | Parameter | Typical Starting Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Drying | Desiccant dryer air temperature | 80 °C |
| Drying | Air dew point | ≤ -40 °C |
| Drying | Residence time | 4 h |
| Drying | Residual moisture | <250 ppm |
| Extrusion | Extruder L/D ratio | 24:1–30:1 |
| Extrusion | Melt temperature | 185–210 °C |
| Extrusion | Cast roll temperature | 40–60 °C |
| Thermoforming | Sheet surface temperature | 90–110 °C |
| Thermoforming | Mold temperature | 20–40 °C |
| Thermoforming | Plug temperature | 60–80 °C |
Extruder screw selection affects melt temperature and output stability. A single-stage barrier screw with a Maddock mixing section is preferred over a high-compression screw designed for semicrystalline PET, because PLA has a higher melt viscosity and a lower melting point. Excessive screw speed raises shear heating and can elevate melt temperature above 210 °C even if barrel setpoints are lower; therefore, melt temperature should be measured at the adapter and not inferred from barrel settings alone. Edge trim and skeleton scrap can be reclaimed if the regrind is kept dry and free of dust. Industrial practice is to limit dried regrind addition to 20–30 wt% of total feed for clear sheet; higher regrind fractions may shift the melt flow index and reduce melt strength due to molecular weight loss during repeated heat histories. Regrind lot quality should be checked by melt flow index under ISO 1133-1:2022 and by visual inspection for gel particles or black specks.
The substitution is not a drop-in conversion. Unfilled PLA has a lower heat deflection temperature and a narrower thermoforming window than APET or HIPS. Under ISO 75-2:2013 at 0.45 MPa, unfilled PLA typically deflects at 50–60 °C, whereas amorphous PET is commonly reported at 70–80 °C and high-impact polystyrene may range from 75–90 °C. This limits hot-fill packaging, microwave reheating, and summer transport in closed vehicles unless the article design provides additional thermal insulation or the package is not exposed to elevated temperatures. The optical difference is less severe: PLA-class materials can show total luminous transmittance of 90–94 % at 1 mm under ASTM D1003, while APET often transmits 88–91 %. However, PLA has lower moisture barrier than PET; water vapour transmission rate data must be generated on the final formed article according to ISO 15106-3:2005 or ASTM F1249 before replacing PET in moisture-sensitive applications. Densities differ sufficiently to affect part weight and kilogram-per-unit calculations: unfilled PLA is typically 1.24–1.26 g/cm³ under ISO 1183-1:2019, compared with 1.33–1.35 g/cm³ for APET. Thermoforming equipment with zoned ceramic infrared heating must be re-profiled because PLA sheet absorbs and retains heat differently; a starting surface-temperature window of 90–110 °C is used for PLA, while HIPS may require 120–140 °C and APET 100–130 °C. Failure to lower the heater setpoint produces sagging, webbing, and edge thinning in PLA.
The amorphous sheet must be heated above its glass transition, typically near 55–60 °C for PLA, to achieve uniform forming without stress whitening. The practical forming surface temperature is 90–110 °C. Below 85 °C, localized draw may fracture the sheet or produce microcracks that reduce part strength; above 115 °C, the sheet sags and may begin cold crystallization, producing haze and embrittlement. Crystallization is slow in PLA compared with PET; therefore, contact heaters and high-temperature molds above 70 °C are avoided in clear amorphous forming. Plug-assist speed, plug material, and forming pressure must be adjusted to prevent premature cooling and uneven wall thickness. Plug temperatures between 60 °C and 80 °C are commonly used with syntactic foam plugs to avoid surface sticking at higher temperatures. Molds are maintained at 20–40 °C to freeze the part before spherulitic growth occurs. These parameters are equipment-specific and should be established on production tooling; they are not defined by an ISO test method.
Typical converted articles include clear clamshells, hinged trays, cup lids, and display containers with wall thicknesses of 0.2–1.0 mm. These applications exploit the high stiffness of PLA, with tensile modulus class-level values of 3000–3500 MPa under ISO 527-2:2012, but they must be designed around the limited room-temperature ductility. Regulatory status depends on the final article. Compliance with EU food-contact requirements is assessed under Regulation (EU) 10/2011; overall migration and specific migration limits must be measured on the formed part, not assumed from resin class. In the United States, PLA materials may be evaluated through a Food Contact Notification or applicable clearance for the finished material; an unqualified 21 CFR listing for the resin should not be assumed. Compostability of a packaging item must be demonstrated under EN 13432 or ASTM D6400 by the converter or brand owner. The resin should not be processed with incompatible polymer contamination above standard purge limits, as incompatible melt phases disrupt sheet clarity and may cause delamination in formed parts.
