| HS Code | 573989 |
| Density | 1.25 g/cm³ |
| Melt Flow Rate | 10 g/10 min (210°C/2.16 kg) |
| Melting Temperature | 165 °C |
| Glass Transition Temperature | 55-60 °C |
| Tensile Strength | 55 MPa |
| Tensile Modulus | 3.5 GPa |
| Elongation At Break | 3% |
| Flexural Modulus | 3.8 GPa |
| Flexural Strength | 85 MPa |
| Notched Izod Impact Strength | 2.5 kJ/m² |
| Heat Deflection Temperature At 0 45 Mpa | 120 °C |
| Heat Deflection Temperature At 1 82 Mpa | 65 °C |
| Biobased Content | 100% |
| Compostability | Industrial compostable |
As an accredited Ingeo Polylactic Acid (PLA) 4950D factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Ingeo Polylactic Acid (PLA) 4950D is supplied in sealed 25 kg moisture-barrier foil-lined bags, securely palletized for industrial shipping. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL container loaded with palletized 25-kg bags of Ingeo Polylactic Acid (PLA) 4950D, shrink-wrapped and secured for ocean shipment. |
| Shipping | Ingeo Polylactic Acid (PLA) 4950D is shipped as non-hazardous thermoplastic pellets in sealed bags, supersacks, or bulk containers. Transport at ambient temperature, keep dry, and protect from heat, moisture, and direct sunlight. Not DOT/IMDG/IATA regulated; no UN number or hazard class required. Maintain sealed packaging until use. |
| Storage | Ingeo Polylactic Acid (PLA) 4950D should be stored indoors in its original sealed packaging, in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, heat, ignition sources, and oxidizing agents. Maintain low humidity and moderate temperature to prevent hydrolysis and degradation. Keep containers closed, labeled, and palletized; avoid prolonged storage near moisture or excessive heat. |
| Shelf Life | Typically 12 months from manufacture when unopened, stored cool, dry, below 50°C and 50% relative humidity, away from sunlight. |
Sequential tenter-frame biaxial orientation of Ingeo 4950D places the largest demand on melt stability because the cast sheet must remain amorphous enough for high-draw uniformity while accumulating sufficient orientation-induced crystallization to suppress shrinkage. The resin is predried in a desiccant dryer with -40 °C dew point to residual moisture <250 ppm before entering a single-screw extruder with an L/D ratio between 24:1 and 32:1 and compression ratio 2.8:1–3.5:1. Barrel temperatures profile from 180 °C at the hopper zone to 220 °C at the die, and melt temperature is not allowed to exceed 230 °C. Cast roll temperature is controlled between 18 °C and 40 °C; higher roll temperatures nucleate spherulites that raise film haze under ASTM D1003, while lower temperatures create electrostatic pickup and transverse gauge bands. Preheat temperature is held at 60–80 °C, above the glass transition but below the cold-crystallization onset. Longitudinal drawing at 2.8:1–3.4:1 is followed by transverse tenter stretching at 3.5:1–4.5:1. Constrained annealing at 110–130 °C reduces free shrinkage under ASTM D1204 to <2% at 60 °C for 24 h. Target film thickness for twist wrap and label stock is 20–40 µm; flow-wrap lamination plies for fresh-cut produce use similar gauges. The film is also used as an outer clear web for compostable coffee-package laminates. Die-lip deposits, cast-sheet bubble formation, or repeated transverse web breaks after a humidity increase indicate that residual moisture has exceeded 250 ppm.
| Process variable | Operating range | Failure signature outside range |
|---|---|---|
| Residual moisture | <250 ppm | die-lip deposits and draw breaks |
| Cast roll temperature | 18–40 °C | haze or static bands |
| Preheat temperature | 60–80 °C | crazing or cold-crystallization |
| Machine-direction draw ratio | 2.8:1–3.4:1 | tensile strength loss or splice breaks |
| Transverse-direction draw ratio | 3.5:1–4.5:1 | transverse gauge scatter |
| Annealing temperature | 110–130 °C | free shrinkage above 2% |
Extruded sheet for roll-fed thermoforming is produced with a three-roll stack at 20–50 °C and target thickness from 200 µm to 1.2 mm. The extruder melt temperature is maintained at 190–220 °C; higher setpoints accelerate monomer reformation and edge contamination, while lower setpoints raise drive load and reduce gauge uniformity. Reheat temperature in the forming station is measured by infrared pyrometers and held at 90–110 °C. Below 90 °C, the sheet exhibits corner fracture during plug contact; above 110 °C, the web sags into the transport chain and loses uniform plug-contact pressure. Plug-assisted forming with plug surface temperature 60–80 °C is required when cavity depth exceeds 50 mm. The plug penetrates to 80–90% of cavity depth before air pressure is applied to prevent early chilling. For unannealed 4950D sheet, the limiting draw ratio is approximately 3:1 for round profiles and 2.5:1 for rectangular trays with corner radii below 5 mm. Corner thinning beyond 70% of original sheet thickness has been observed to initiate environmental stress cracking in frozen-food storage. Mold temperature is set at 30–50 °C, and formed articles are ejected below 50 °C to minimize post-forming distortion. Thermoformed containers from this sheet are used for refrigerated dairy desserts, fresh-cut fruit trays, and bakery inserts. Printed sheet must be qualified for migration under EU 10/2011 because the ink and adhesive layers alter overall migration behavior independently of the PLA substrate.
| Standard | Scope | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| EN 13432 | Industrial compostability of packaging | Validated for unprinted substrate; inks and adhesives require separate evaluation |
| ASTM D6400 | Compostable plastics under aerobic municipal conditions | Grade-specific certification listed in supplier documentation |
| EU 10/2011 | Food-contact migration | Overall migration limit 10 mg/dm² |
| ISO 1133-1 | Melt mass-flow rate | Use certificate of analysis value for extrusion calibration |
When 4950D is converted by injection stretch blow molding, the preform injection phase uses a melt temperature of 190–210 °C and mold cooling water at 8–15 °C to produce an amorphous preform with crystallinity below 5%. Preforms are stored in moisture-barrier packaging because PLA surface hydration above 0.1% by weight causes stretch-induced haze and sidewall thickness scatter. Reheat ovens are profiled to bring the preform body to 95–105 °C while the neck remains below 60 °C to avoid deformation under stretch-rod load. Axial stretch ratio is set between 2.0:1 and 2.5:1; hoop stretch ratio is set between 2.5:1 and 3.5:1. Blow mold temperature is maintained at 110–130 °C to induce strain-induced crystallization and reduce post-mold shrinkage. Cycle time is extended by 20–40% compared with PET in the same cavity configuration because of PLA lower thermal conductivity and narrow reheat window. Gate blush and preform dimension drift outside ±0.25 mm are controlled through injection and hold pressure balancing. Bottles produced from 4950D are used for cold-filled juice, dairy alternatives, and dry nutritional supplement packs. Published data for the specific 4950D ISBM configuration is limited; production transfers require preform weight mapping and section-weight analysis across all cavities.
In spunbond and staple fiber lines, 4950D requires residual moisture below <150 ppm because shear heating in the spin pack can raise the effective melt temperature by 5–15 °C. Extruder and spin-head temperatures are set between 210 °C and 230 °C; overshoot beyond 235 °C initiates lactide reformation and produces black specks on filter packs. Quench air is delivered at 10–20 °C with a face velocity of 0.3–0.6 m/s. Filament draw ratios between 3.0:1 and 5.0:1 are used for carded staple fiber; ratios above 5.0:1 increase broken filaments and surface fibrillation. Crimping at 40–60 °C and spin finish levels of 0.1–0.3% by weight reduce fiber-to-fiber friction. Bonding calendars for spunbond operate at 90–120 °C with nip pressure between 20 N/mm and 60 N/mm. The resulting nonwovens are used in compostable tea bags, agricultural crop covers, and hygiene acquisition layers. Published production-scale data for 4950D in high-speed spunbond is more limited than for film and sheet; pilot-line parameter transfers should be validated on the target beam configuration.
For low-density foam extrusion of 4950D, endothermic chemical blowing agents are loaded at 0.5–2.0 wt% and predried with the resin to <250 ppm moisture. A two-stage screw with melt cooler is used because the high-viscosity melt can generate sufficient shear heat to decompose the blowing agent before the die. Melt temperature at the die is controlled between 160 °C and 180 °C. Below 160 °C melt pressure rises and cell walls tear; above 180 °C gas escapes through the melt surface and produces pinholes. Die pressure is maintained above 4 MPa with a fluctuation band of ±0.5 MPa. Larger fluctuations are visible as pre-die nucleation and irregular cell-size distribution. Open-cell content measured under ASTM D6226 rises above 15% when die temperature exceeds 185 °C or moisture content exceeds 250 ppm. The foamed sheet density typically ranges from 40 kg/m³ to 120 kg/m³. Commercial uses include compostable meat trays, cushioning blocks, and insulated cold-chain liners. The processing window is narrower than branched PLA foam grades, and published data for 4950D in continuous foam extrusion is limited; start-up mapping should use a design of experiments around die pressure, melt temperature, and blowing agent loading.
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Ingeo Polylactic Acid (PLA) 4950D is a high-molecular-weight poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) extrusion grade supplied as cylindrical pellets. The polymer is produced by conversion of plant-derived dextrose to lactic acid, dimerization to lactide, and catalytic ring-opening polymerization; the D-lactide stereoisomer content is controlled because it influences crystallization half-time, optical haze, and melt stability. Supplier technical literature describes the grade as having a nominal density of 1.24 g/cm³ measured according to ISO 1183-1. The principal processing routes are heavy-gauge sheet extrusion and downstream plug-assisted thermoforming, where melt strength and sheet sag resistance are more critical than in thin-wall injection molding. 4950D is not a direct substitute for polystyrene or amorphous polyethylene terephthalate; barrel temperature, drying, and tooling must be re-qualified because PLA undergoes hydrolytic chain scission in the melt state. Food-contact suitability for U.S. applications is established through the supplier’s effective Food Contact Notification; for the European Union, the converter must verify compliance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011, including overall migration and specific migration limits for lactic acid and catalyst residues in the finished article.
Moisture absorption before extrusion is the principal variable controlling molecular weight retention. Drying in a closed-loop desiccant dryer to a residual moisture level ≤ 250 ppm is recommended; a dew point ≤ −40 °C and a drying temperature of 80 °C for 4–6 h are typical. Moisture content should be verified by ISO 15512 or ASTM D6869. Residual moisture above 250 ppm accelerates hydrolytic degradation, appearing as a decline in die melt pressure greater than 5 % from the stabilized baseline and a loss of intrinsic viscosity. Melt temperature at the die exit should be held between 190 °C and 220 °C. Barrel setpoints above 230 °C promote lactide reformation, yellowing, and molecular weight reduction. A single-screw extruder with L/D 24:1–30:1 and compression ratio 2.5:1–3.0:1 is suitable, but shear heating can raise the actual melt temperature by 5–15 °C above the controller setpoint. An insertion thermocouple in the adapter or die should be used to measure actual melt temperature, particularly at screw speeds above 60 rpm on a 45 mm screw. Dead spots, damaged screw coatings, and undersized screen packs increase residence time and should be minimized because PLA is vulnerable to oxidative and hydrolytic degradation at melt temperature.
| Parameter | Value or range | Test method or equipment |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.24 g/cm³ | ISO 1183-1 |
| Melt flow rate | 6–8 g/10 min at 210 °C/2.16 kg | ASTM D1238 or ISO 1133-1 |
| Drying temperature | 80 °C | desiccant dryer, dew point ≤ −40 °C |
| Residual moisture before processing | ≤ 250 ppm | ISO 15512/ASTM D6869 |
| Melt temperature at die exit | 190–220 °C | insertion thermocouple |
| Chill roll temperature | 25–45 °C | polished three-roll stack |
| Thermoforming sheet surface temperature | 85–105 °C | infrared pyrometer |
| Tensile yield strength | 48–62 MPa | ISO 527-2 |
| Flexural modulus | 3.4–3.8 GPa | ISO 178 |
| Heat deflection temperature | 55–60 °C at 0.46 MPa | ISO 75-2 Method B |
| Notched Izod impact | 16–24 J/m | ASTM D256 |
The ranges in Table 1 are not a release specification; they are typical values compiled from supplier literature and can shift with additive package, regrind content, and moisture history. Lot-specific certificates of analysis must be used for production acceptance. The crystalline melting range for 4950D is typically 150–165 °C by differential scanning calorimetry at 10 °C/min under ISO 11357-3. Isothermal crystallization half-time at 100 °C is reported to be between 1 min and 3 min for neat PLLA, but the exact value shifts with D-lactide content and additives. This thermal behavior explains why chill roll temperature and mold temperature must be controlled within narrow bands: excessive crystallization on the rolls increases haze, while rapid quenching preserves an amorphous structure that may shrink after forming.
Within the Ingeo sheet-grade portfolio, the distinction between 4950D and 4032D is primarily melt rheology rather than density, because both grades are reported at approximately 1.24 g/cm³ under ISO 1183-1. 4950D is specified where unaided sheet stability and deep-draw forming are required; 4032D is used in biaxially oriented film where controlled stretching and low residual stress are needed. On a 60 mm single-screw line, 4950D typically exhibits higher back-pressure and greater edge stability than lower-viscosity grades, but the same melt strength can reduce flow uniformity when the sheet thickness is below 0.5 mm. In thin-gauge configurations, a gear pump and flexible-lip die are usually required to hold thickness tolerance at ± 5 % of target. Direct side-by-side rheological data generated on the same capillary rheometer are limited in the public domain; substitution between 4950D and other Ingeo grades must therefore be validated against the supplier’s lot-specific certificate of analysis and not by melt flow rate alone.
The operational differences between 4950D and other Ingeo grades are summarized in Table 2. The melt flow rate values are supplier-reported under ASTM D1238 at 210 °C and 2.16 kg; they are not specifications.
| Grade | Typical melt flow rate | Intended processing route | Processing implication |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4950D | 6–8 g/10 min | heavy-gauge sheet extrusion, plug-assisted thermoforming | higher melt strength; lower flow |
| 4032D | 7 g/10 min | biaxially oriented film | balanced orientation; controlled stretch |
| 3052D | 14 g/10 min | injection stretch blow molding | lower melt strength; higher flow for thin-wall preforms |
If a converter uses 4950D in a line configured for 3052D, back-pressure and melt temperature may rise and cycle time may lengthen. The screw and barrel should be evaluated for drag and melting capacity, and the melt pump must be recalibrated because the higher melt viscosity alters the pressure-flow relationship at constant screw speed.
At sheet surface temperatures between 85 °C and 105 °C, the material is in the rubbery plateau above the glass transition and below the crystalline melting range. Forming below 85 °C increases elastic recovery and webbing; forming above 105 °C can cause localized thinning and gloss variation. Plug-assisted tools using low-thermal-conductivity plug materials, such as syntactic foam or PEEK, are used to avoid premature chilling of the sheet. Mold temperatures of 20–40 °C are typical for amorphous, high-clarity parts; higher cavity temperatures up to 80 °C are used when post-forming annealing is required to raise the heat deflection temperature. Crystallization of neat PLLA is slow compared with PET, so annealing in the mold requires hold times that can exceed the economic cycle time. Published data for the exact process window in deep-draw cavities with draw ratios above 3:1 is limited; line trials with corner-radius changes and plug-speed profiling are required to avoid thin spots and stress whitening.
For chilled food packaging and fresh-cut produce containers, the primary qualification routes are migration testing under Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 and sensory evaluation under DIN 10955 or ISO 13302. The material is used in clear dairy cups, portion cups, deli trays, and clamshells where service temperatures remain below the glass transition under load. It is not suitable for retort, hot-fill above 60 °C, or microwave reheating without heat-setting because unannealed PLA softens near 55 °C under 0.46 MPa loading. Permeation properties must be measured on the finished wall thickness; standard methods include ASTM E96 for water vapor transmission and ASTM D3985 for oxygen transmission. Compared with PET, PLA typically exhibits higher water vapor transmission at equivalent wall thickness; this difference is managed through barrier lamination, coating, or increased wall thickness rather than by resin change alone.
An inline corona discharge unit is generally preferred for PLA sheet and film. The as-extruded surface energy of PLA is approximately 38 mN/m measured with test inks according to DIN 55660-2. For water-based flexographic inks, pressure-sensitive adhesives, or UV coatings, the surface is raised to 44–48 mN/m immediately before converting. Flame treatment is an alternative but can induce thermal hazing if dwell time is excessive. Surface treatment decay is influenced by storage humidity and additive migration; re-treatment after more than 24 h of open storage may be required. Because the polymer surface contains ester groups, adhesion is controlled by both surface energy and acid-base interactions. The converter should verify adhesion by crosshatch testing under ISO 2409 or bond-pull testing under ASTM D1876 on the finished laminate, not on the untreated sheet.
The resin grade itself does not confer compostability on a finished article. Claims of industrial compostability require certification of the final article under ISO 17088, EN 13432, or ASTM D6400. Under those standards, disintegration must exceed 90 % after 12 weeks in an industrial composting environment, and biodegradation must reach 90 % relative to a positive reference within 180 days; heavy-metal and ecotoxicity limits must also be satisfied. Ingeo PLA 4950D is intended to hydrolyze under high-humidity, elevated-temperature industrial composting conditions, not in ambient soil or home-compost piles. The presence of color concentrates, barrier coatings, labels, or adhesives can change the certification outcome. Therefore, the converter is responsible for testing and certifying the finished article, including any regrind content.
Reprocessing of edge trim and thermoforming skeletal scrap is standard on sheet lines running 4950D, but regrind addition alters melt viscosity and optical clarity. A typical closed-loop regrind content is 10–20 wt%. Above 20 wt%, lot-to-lot variation in trim color and molecular weight becomes more visible in clear containers. On a 70 mm twin-screw compounding extruder used to pelletize in-house scrap, melt temperature should remain below 220 °C, and vacuum devolatilization is used to strip moisture and residual lactide before pelletizing. Published data for the effect of multiple heat histories on 4950D impact strength is limited; converters should cap the number of reprocessing cycles and monitor melt flow rate, yellowing index, and notched impact according to ASTM D256.
