| HS Code | 384241 |
| Product Name | Luminy PLA D070 |
| Chemical Name | Poly-D-lactic acid (PDLA) |
| Appearance | Pellets |
| Color | Natural/translucent |
| D Isomer Content | >99 |
| Biodegradability | Compostable (EN 13432) |
| Crystallinity | Semi-crystalline |
As an accredited Luminy Polylactic Acid (PLA) D070 factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Luminy Polylactic Acid (PLA) D070 is supplied in 25 kg bags or 1,000 kg bulk bags, palletized for transport. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | Chemical Luminy Polylactic Acid (PLA) D070 loaded into a 20′ FCL container, securely palletized, moisture-protected, and sealed for safe transport. |
| Shipping | Luminy Polylactic Acid (PLA) D070 is a non-hazardous polymer resin. It is not regulated for transport by DOT, IMDG, or IATA. Ship in sealed, moisture-resistant bags or boxes, keep dry, avoid excessive heat, and label with product name, grade, lot number, and supplier information. |
| Storage | Store Luminy PLA D070 in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Keep in tightly closed original packaging to prevent moisture uptake. Recommended storage below 30°C and low relative humidity. Avoid contact with strong oxidizers. Use first-in, first-out; reseal opened containers promptly. Ensure good ventilation during handling. |
| Shelf Life | Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area in original packaging; shelf life typically 12 months, away from moisture and heat. |
Luminy PLA D070 is fed to injection molding machine hoppers from crystallizer-equipped desiccant dryers delivering air at −35 °C dew point. Pellets are dried at 80 °C for 4 h to 6 h. The residual moisture target is 250 ppm or lower. Higher residual moisture produces splay, volatile surface defects, and melt viscosity loss through hydrolytic chain scission. The feed throat is water-cooled to 30–50 °C. Barrel temperatures are set from 165 °C at the feed zone to 200 °C at the nozzle. The melt temperature measured at purge must not exceed 210 °C. Residence time is kept below 8 min at full barrel volume. General-purpose screws with L/D 22:1 to 25:1 and compression ratio 2.5:1 are acceptable for thin-wall disposable parts. Shallow-flighted barrier screws reduce shear overheating when screw speed exceeds 120 rpm. Mold temperature is held at 15–35 °C for amorphous transparency. The part is ejected when surface temperature falls below 55 °C. Thin-wall cutlery with flow length-to-wall thickness ratios up to 150:1 can be filled at injection pressures between 80 MPa and 120 MPa. Holding pressure is set at 50–70 % of injection pressure. Clamp force is calculated from projected area and cavity pressure of 25–40 MPa. Hot runner systems with internally heated tips are used only when resin residence time in the manifold is below 2 min. Tensile bars molded per ISO 294-1 are conditioned at 23 °C and 50 % RH for 48 h. Typical tensile yield strength measured under ISO 527-2 is 45–60 MPa. Flexural modulus under ISO 178 is 3.0–3.5 GPa. Notched Izod impact per ISO 180/A is below 3 kJ/m². Brittleness limits the material to rigid disposables and short-life packaging rather than load-bearing reusable items. Published data for this specific configuration is limited, and the figures are process-dependent rather than guaranteed grade maxima.
Sheet extrusion lines running D070 require the same 250 ppm moisture ceiling before the extruder feed throat. A single-screw extruder with L/D 30:1 to 33:1 and a gear pump maintains melt delivery steady enough for 0.3–2.0 mm sheet. The die gap is set 10 % wider than final sheet thickness. Polishing roll temperatures are held at 30–60 °C. Amorphous sheet is favored for thermoforming because it permits a wider draw window before haze develops. The sheet surface temperature must reach 90–110 °C in the oven. Local overheating above 120 °C triggers cold crystallization. Crystallized domains appear as white haze and reduce draw depth. Vacuum or pressure forming runs at 4–7 bar and mold temperature 20–35 °C. Plug-assisted forming keeps trim loss below 4 % when plug speed is limited to 250 mm/s. Deep-draw corner radii below 0.5 mm are not reliably produced from D070 because melt strength drops abruptly at the upper forming temperature. Trim recyclate can be reintroduced up to 20 wt% if the ground flake is dried to below 0.025 wt% moisture and particle size remains below 6 mm. Higher recyclate loading reduces sheet melt strength and increases gel count. Food-contact trays made from D070 must be tested under Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 Annex I as amended and under the applicable United States FDA food-contact notification for the specific additivation. Overall migration testing in simulant A, B, D2, and E follows the times and temperatures of intended use. The grade’s melt volume-flow rate appears on the lot certificate under ISO 1133-1 at 210 °C and 2.16 kg; that value should be checked before setting chill roll speed and die lip adjustment range.
Filament lines making 1.75 mm and 2.85 mm feedstock use a single-screw extruder with L/D 24:1 to 30:1 and a gear pump. A screen changer with 50 μm filter element removes carbonized specks and screw-wear particles. The die hole is 2.0 mm for 1.75 mm filament and 3.0 mm for 2.85 mm filament. Melt temperature is held at 175–195 °C. Water bath entry distance is 25–50 mm. Water temperature is set at 35–50 °C. Puller speed is adjusted to a draw ratio of 1.8:1 to 2.2:1. Laser gauges sample diameter at 100 Hz minimum. Diameter tolerance is ±0.03 mm for 1.75 mm filament. Ovality is controlled below 0.02 mm. Winding tension is limited to 0.5 N; higher tension cold-draws the filament and creates local necks. If residual moisture exceeds 150 ppm, the extrudate develops bubbles and diameter variance exceeds 0.05 mm. Lot-to-lot melt-flow differences require closed-loop correction between melt pump speed and puller speed. Process alarms are tied to continuous diameter data rather than manual checks. Annealing after winding at 80–100 °C for 2–4 h raises heat deflection temperature but must not exceed spool core temperature tolerance. Users must set the control window against ISO 1133-1 certificates and inline gauge records; published data for this specific configuration is limited.
Spunbond and melt-blown nonwoven trials with D070 are constrained by melt strength and crystallization rate; a laboratory melt-blown line with hole diameters below 0.3 mm is required before commercial scale-up.
Biaxially oriented film made from D070 begins as cast amorphous sheet of 0.2–0.8 mm thickness. The cast sheet is reheated to 70–90 °C for simultaneous or sequential stretching. Stretch ratios are set from 3.0×3.0 to 4.0×4.0. At these draw ratios strain-induced orientation raises tensile modulus along both axes. Heat setting at 140–160 °C for 10–30 s increases crystallinity and dimensional stability. Differential scanning calorimetry per ISO 11357-3 shows a cold crystallization peak near 110 °C and a melting peak near 175 °C. The crystallization half-time in the stretch window determines the maximum line speed. If the sheet remains above 110 °C for more than 5 s before stretching, spherulites form and film haze rises. Transverse direction stretching is affected by clip spacing and rail opening. Machine direction stretching requires roll speed differentials of 0.5–1.0 m/min per gap. Film thickness after orientation is 20–50 μm. Shrink tension develops if heat setting is insufficient. Film tensile properties measured per ASTM D882 change with stretch ratio and annealing temperature. Hot air shrink at 80 °C is kept below 10 %; higher shrink targets require a different resin. Published data for this specific configuration is limited. Converters must establish the stretching window empirically because film splitting occurs when draw speed exceeds the local plastic deformation rate.
Masterbatch producers use D070 as a crystalline carrier resin when the active additive is a nucleating agent; twin-screw compounding at 190–210 °C requires torque monitoring to detect viscosity drift from additive decomposition.
Competitive Luminy Polylactic Acid (PLA) D070 prices that fit your budget—flexible terms and customized quotes for every order.
For samples, pricing, or more information, please contact us at +8618136850665 or mail to sales4@ascent-chem.com.
We will respond to you as soon as possible.
Tel: +8618136850665
Email: sales4@ascent-chem.com
Flexible payment, competitive price, premium service - Inquire now!
Luminy® Polylactic Acid (PLA) D070 is a high-optical-purity poly(L-lactide) grade supplied by TotalEnergies Corbion bv in pellet form for injection-moulding, melt-spinning, and extrusion operations that require faster crystallisation than generic PLA. The D070 grade identifier denotes a nominal D-lactide content of approximately 0.7 mol%; this stereo-defect level is below the 1.0 mol% and 1.75 mol% D-lactide levels associated with the L105 and LX175 grades. The reduced defect density permits a higher maximum crystalline fraction and a more rapid cold crystallisation response at constrained cooling rates. D070 is a linear aliphatic polyester synthesised by ring-opening polymerisation of lactide derived from renewable carbohydrate feedstocks. Its reported physical data include a density near 1.24 g/cm³ under ISO 1183-1:2019, a glass transition temperature of 55–60°C, and a peak melting endotherm near 175°C under ISO 11357-3:2018. The melt mass-flow rate is specified under ISO 1133-1:2022 at 210°C/2.16 kg; the nominal value is typically reported at 6.0 g/10 min, placing the grade in the low- to medium-flow segment for thin-wall injection moulding.
In poly(L-lactide), stereo-defect incorporation from D-lactide interrupts the regular helical packing of the α-crystal and reduces lamellar thickness, spherulite growth rate, and the final enthalpy of fusion. For D070, the 0.7 mol% D-lactide content lowers the defect density relative to L105 and LX175, producing a crystallite melting point sufficiently high for annealed moulded parts to tolerate short-term contact with hot liquids or dishwashing cycles. Isothermal crystallisation at 100–110°C is reported to develop crystalline fractions above 40%; the resulting heat deflection temperature under ISO 75-2:2013 method A can shift from the as-moulded value of approximately 65°C to above 100°C, depending on part thickness and annealing time. Non-isothermal crystallisation remains the limiting factor in cold-runner injection moulding. At cooling rates above 30 K/min, quench-induced crystallinity is low, and mould temperature must be held between 20°C and 40°C to allow nucleation without excessive cycle-time penalty. Differential fast scanning calorimetry data for PLA of similar optical purity indicate that the critical cooling rate to suppress crystallisation is lower for D070 than for higher-D PLA grades, consistent with higher nucleation density. The practical consequence is that D070 can be ejected from a cold mould in a semi-glossy, low-crystallinity state and then annealed in a separate fixture at 90–110°C for 30–60 min to achieve dimensional stability at service temperatures approaching 120°C in low-stress applications.
D070 is specified through the standard property set used for semi-crystalline injection-moulding thermoplastics. Mechanical properties are reported on dry-as-moulded or annealed test specimens. When values are quoted without an annealing history, they refer to test bars conditioned at 23°C and 50% relative humidity. Tensile modulus is determined under ISO 527-1:2019/ISO 527-2:2019 at a test speed of 1 mm/min for modulus and 5 mm/min for strength; the reported tensile modulus of D070 is near 3500 MPa, with tensile stress at break around 55 MPa and tensile strain at break around 5%. Flexural modulus under ISO 178:2019 is approximately 3600 MPa, and flexural strength at 2 mm/min is near 95 MPa. Notched Izod impact strength under ISO 180/A on 4 mm specimens is approximately 2.5 kJ/m². This positions D070 below polypropylene but above unmodified general-purpose polystyrene in low-velocity impact. The property spread between dry-as-moulded and annealed D070 is significant. Because PLA absorbs water and plasticizes at the surface, mechanical modulus and heat deflection must be reported with moisture content and crystallinity. A producer’s certificate of analysis typically states melt mass-flow rate under ISO 1133-1:2022, moisture content below 250 ppm, and D-lactide content as process-control limits. The grade is supplied in 25 kg sealed bags or bulk containers; opened material must be reprotected from ambient humidity to avoid hydrolysis-induced molecular weight loss in the barrel.
| Property | Test method | Reported value |
|---|---|---|
| D-lactide content | Process-control chromatographic method | 0.7 mol% |
| Density | ISO 1183-1:2019 | 1.24 g/cm³ |
| Melt mass-flow rate | ISO 1133-1:2022 at 210°C/2.16 kg | 6.0 g/10 min |
| Tensile modulus | ISO 527-1/-2:2019 | 3500 MPa |
| Tensile stress at break | ISO 527-1/-2:2019 | 55 MPa |
| Tensile strain at break | ISO 527-1/-2:2019 | 5% |
| Flexural modulus | ISO 178:2019 | 3600 MPa |
| Flexural strength | ISO 178:2019 | 95 MPa |
| Notched Izod impact | ISO 180/A | 2.5 kJ/m² |
| Heat deflection temperature A | ISO 75-2:2013 method A | 65°C as-moulded |
| Heat deflection temperature B | ISO 75-2:2013 method B | 85°C as-moulded |
D070 is run on standard injection-moulding machines equipped with a shut-off nozzle and a three-zone screw having an L/D ratio of 18:1 to 25:1 and a compression ratio of 2.0:1 to 2.5:1. The resin must be dried before melt processing. A desiccant-wheel dryer with a dew point of -40°C and an air temperature of 80°C for 4–6 h is specified to reduce moisture below 250 ppm. Moisture above 500 ppm at processing temperatures promotes chain scission via ester hydrolysis, causing viscosity loss, silver streaking, reduced weld-line strength, and part brittleness. The recommended barrel temperature profile is 180–210°C from feed throat to nozzle; the nozzle itself is held at 190–210°C, and melt temperature should not exceed 230°C for residence times above 10 min. Mould temperature is normally set between 20°C and 40°C for fast cycle times, but high-gloss surfaces require mould surface temperatures near 60°C. Hot moulds above 80°C reduce quench-related shrinkage anisotropy but extend crystallisation time. Injection velocity is set high enough to fill the cavity before the melt front freezes. Thin-wall parts below 1.5 mm may require injection pressures above 80 MPa and holding pressures of 60–100 MPa. Back pressure between 50 bar and 100 bar maintains melt homogeneity. Screw rotation speed is limited to 50–150 min⁻¹ to avoid shear heating and premature backbone degradation. The regrind level is generally limited to 20–30% with virgin material because reprocessing reduces number-average molecular weight by approximately 5–10% per heat history. Processing equipment should be purged with a low-MFI polyethylene or polypropylene before and after running D070. Purging with polycarbonate or PET is not recommended due to melt-temperature mismatch. Published data for injection-moulding of D070 in hot-runner systems is limited; cold-runner systems with small sprue bush and direct gate geometry are the most commonly reported configurations.
The main difference between D070 and lower-optical-purity Luminy PLA grades is not density or tensile modulus, which remain within 5–10% of one another in dry-as-moulded specimens, but the rate and maximum extent of crystallisation. L105, with approximately 1.0 mol% D-lactide, and LX175, with approximately 1.75 mol% D-lactide, exhibit lower nucleation density and require either longer mould residence times or a nucleating agent to achieve comparable crystalline fractions. D070 reaches a heat deflection temperature under ISO 75-2:2013 method A approximately 5–15°C higher than L105 and 15–25°C higher than LX175 after identical annealing cycles. This difference is most relevant in parts exposed to hot water, microwave reheating, or dishwashing. Annealed D070 can withstand short-term contact at 100°C without gross deformation, whereas low-optical-purity PLA grades begin to soften near the glass transition of 55–60°C. The trade-off includes reduced melt elasticity and a narrower processing window at high shear rates. D070 has a higher apparent melt viscosity at low shear rates than LX175, which can produce higher injection pressure requirements and greater orientation-induced anisotropy in thin sections. Unlike fully amorphous PLA materials, D070 exhibits opacity in thick sections due to spherulitic crystallisation. This limits its use in transparent articles but improves chemical resistance to oils, aliphatic hydrocarbons, and aqueous acids. Solvent resistance remains limited against esters, ketones, and chlorinated solvents, which swell or dissolve PLA. When a clear, low-heat article is required, an amorphous or lower-optical-purity PLA grade is preferred; when heat resistance and dimensional stability outweigh transparency, D070 is specified.
PLA degradation in D070 is dominated by random ester hydrolysis and intramolecular transesterification; oxidative degradation is secondary at barrel temperatures below 230°C. The hydrolysis reaction follows pseudo-first-order kinetics in the presence of dissolved moisture, with the rate constant increasing sharply above the glass transition of the amorphous phase. Moisture content of 250 ppm is considered the safe upper process limit. At 500 ppm, number-average molecular weight can drop by 10–20% within 15 min at 210°C, producing measurable loss in melt strength and weld-line integrity. Degradation products include lactide, linear lactic acid oligomers, and trace acetaldehyde; acetaldehyde generation is lower for high-optical-purity PLA than for PET but remains detectable by headspace gas chromatography. Additives such as carbodiimide hydrolysis stabilizers can extend melt residence time but are not part of the neat D070 specification and require compatibility testing under ISO 11358-1:2014 thermogravimetric protocols. Melt viscosity is shear-thinning with a power-law index in the range of 0.4–0.6 at 190–210°C; filling pressure is therefore more sensitive to injection speed than to melt temperature. Screws with compression ratios above 3.0:1 can generate local shear heating above 240°C and should be avoided. In extrusion compounding or masterbatch dilution, D070 has been processed on twin-screw extruders with L/D ratios of 32:1 to 44:1, using temperature profiles of 170–200°C and melt-pump inlet pressures below 50 bar. The residence time distribution in such equipment is wider than in injection moulding; extrusion compounding at screw speeds above 300 min⁻¹ can therefore produce localized low-molecular-weight zones unless barrel cooling is configured for shear-sensitive polyesters. These boundaries indicate that D070 is not a drop-in replacement for polyethylene or polypropylene; it requires moisture control, thermal profiling, and residence-time discipline.
Application-specific requirements for D070 are commonly verified by test protocols rather than datasheet values alone. For food-contact service, the grade is assessed within the framework of EU Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 and FDA 21 CFR 175.300 for the finished article; migration limits depend on surface-to-volume ratio, food simulant, time, and temperature. D070 is produced from renewable feedstocks and is typically certified as industrially compostable under EN 13432:2000 or ASTM D6400, but certification applies to the finished article, not the resin alone. For microwave or hot-fill applications, annealing is mandatory; as-moulded D070 parts are not dimensionally stable above 65°C under load. The grade is incompatible with strongly alkaline aqueous media above pH 10 at elevated temperatures and with amine-based additives that accelerate ester aminolysis. External lubricants containing free fatty acids or high levels of zinc stearate can promote hydrolysis at processing temperatures. D070 is not suitable for continuous service under mechanical load above 70°C without reinforcing fillers. When higher modulus or creep resistance is required, it is compounded with talc, glass fibre, or mineral fillers under ISO 20028-1 sampling procedures, but those filled compounds fall outside the neat D070 specification.
