| HS Code | 943636 |
| Product Name | Luminy Polylactic Acid (PLA) LX530 |
| Chemical Name | Polylactic acid |
| Polymer Type | Polylactic acid (PLA) |
| Appearance | Pellets |
| Color | Natural |
| Density | 1.24 g/cm³ |
| Melt Flow Rate | 10 g/10 min (190°C/2.16 kg) |
| Glass Transition Temperature | 60 °C |
| Melting Temperature | 175 °C |
| Heat Deflection Temperature At 0 45 Mpa | 120 °C |
| Heat Deflection Temperature At 1 82 Mpa | 65 °C |
| Tensile Modulus | 3600 MPa |
| Tensile Strength | 55 MPa |
| Elongation At Break | 3.5% |
| Flexural Modulus | 3800 MPa |
| Flexural Strength | 85 MPa |
| Notched Izod Impact Strength | 2.5 kJ/m² |
| Biobased Content | 100% |
| Compostability | Compostable |
As an accredited Luminy Polylactic Acid (PLA) LX530 factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Luminy PLA LX530 is supplied in 25 kg moisture-resistant paper bags, palletized, and 1,000 kg bulk bags for industrial use. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | Luminy Polylactic Acid (PLA) LX530 loaded in a 20-foot FCL container, palletized bags, shrink-wrapped and secured for ocean transport. |
| Shipping | Luminy Polylactic Acid (PLA) LX530 is shipped as non-hazardous solid resin pellets in moisture-barrier bags, drums, or bulk containers. Not regulated for transport by DOT, IMDG, or IATA. Store dry, away from heat and prolonged sunlight; protect from moisture and contamination. |
| Storage | Store Luminy Polylactic Acid (PLA) LX530 in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, heat, and ignition sources. Keep in original sealed packaging to prevent moisture uptake, which can degrade the resin. Maintain low humidity and temperatures below 30°C. Avoid contact with strong oxidizers. Use FIFO and reseal opened containers promptly. |
| Shelf Life | Luminy PLA LX530 has a shelf life of 12 months when stored unopened below 25°C and 50% relative humidity. |
Refrigerated dairy cup production using Luminy PLA LX530 in cast-sheet form depends on the low D-isomer fraction of the grade to shorten cold crystallisation half-time after thermoforming, while the extrusion line suppresses crystallisation during rollstock solidification by rapid chill-roll cooling. Sheet extrusion is executed on a single-screw extruder with 30:1 L/D and barrier screw, at melt temperature 200–215 °C, with chill-roll stack maintained at 25–35 °C and roller gap adjusted to yield sheet thickness 0.30–0.80 mm. The LX530 fraction in the sheet formulation is typically 96–98 wt%; 0.2–0.5 wt% of an erucamide slip/anti-block masterbatch is added to permit rollstock separation, and the remaining 2 wt% is a white masterbatch. Before extrusion, the resin is dried in a desiccant dryer at 80 °C for 4–6 h to a target moisture below 250 ppm, with dew point at −40 °C. Food-contact compliance is validated under Regulation (EC) No 10/2011 using overall migration testing per EN 1186-1:2002 in 3 wt% acetic acid and 10% ethanol simulants at 40 °C/10 days, with an overall migration limit of 10 mg/dm²; U.S. market clearance is handled through grade-specific food-contact documentation rather than monomer GRAS status alone. Thermoforming uses plug-assisted forming at draw ratios of 1.2–1.6, with sheet surface temperature 85–95 °C before forming. The process conflict is moisture regain: if rollstock is stored above 60% RH without barrier packaging, moisture pickup above 250 ppm hydrolyses the PLA ester linkages during reheat, producing edge tear and wall-thickness variation. Finished products are 125–500 ml dairy cups, portion pots, and snap lids for cold-fill dairy and dessert applications.
Single-serve compostable capsule bodies made from Luminy PLA LX530 are moulded with a cold runner and valve-gate system to avoid long molten residence in the manifold. The compound is dosed at 98–99 wt% LX530; titanium dioxide white masterbatch is 1–2 wt%, and the slip-agent addition is held below 0.3 wt% to prevent delamination at the capsule sealing ring. The resin is pre-dried at 80 °C for 4 h to ≤ 250 ppm moisture. Melt temperature at the nozzle is kept at 210–230 °C, with mould coolant at 20–30 °C and wall thickness in the capsule body at 0.30–0.50 mm; multi-cavity production tools typically demand clamp force of 3000–4500 kN depending on cavity number and projected area. Compliance for direct food contact is assessed under Regulation (EC) No 10/2011; where a whole capsule is marketed as compostable, disintegration is evaluated under EN 13432:2000/AC:2005 and biodegradation under ISO 14855-1:2012 with the 90% mineralization end point within 180 days. The downstream injection process requires high injection speed to fill the thin sidewall before premature freeze-off, and holding pressure is profiled to maintain the rim geometry that accepts a PLA-paper laminate lid. The critical threshold is residence time: melt temperature above 230 °C for more than 10 min promotes lactide monomer evolution, visible as plate-out on the core side and reduced seal strength. End products are 5–8 g capsule bodies for home-compostable single-serve coffee and tea systems.
| Compliance requirement | Test method or directive | Numerical limit |
|---|---|---|
| EU food-contact overall migration | EN 1186-1:2002 / Regulation (EC) No 10/2011 | ≤ 10 mg/dm² |
| Compostability disintegration | EN 13432:2000/AC:2005, ISO 16929 | ≤ 10% fragments > 2 mm after 12 weeks |
| Compostability biodegradation | ISO 14855-1:2012 | ≥ 90% mineralization within 180 days |
| RoHS restricted metals | Directive 2011/65/EU Annex II | Pb ≤ 1000 mg/kg; Cd ≤ 100 mg/kg; Hg ≤ 1000 mg/kg; Cr(VI) ≤ 1000 mg/kg |
| REACH SVHC in article | Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 Article 33 | < 0.1 wt% per SVHC |
Hot beverage lid production from Luminy PLA LX530 does not accept the amorphous injection-moulded article as the final part. The part is injected at melt temperature 205–225 °C, mould temperature 25–35 °C, and wall thickness 0.50–0.80 mm, then transferred in-line to an annealing jig maintained at 95–105 °C for 20–40 s. The LX530 weight fraction is 97–99 wt%, with 1–3 wt% talc nucleant to accelerate cold crystallisation; talc loadings above 5 wt% reduce impact resistance and are avoided for snap-fit lid skirts. This secondary crystallisation raises the heat deflection temperature from the amorphous value to a practical service limit of approximately 85–95 °C under 0.45 MPa, measured per ISO 75-2:2013 Method B. Annealing jigs are designed with negative compensation for radial shrinkage of 0.8–1.2% and use circulating thermal oil to maintain jig surface uniformity. Food-contact compliance follows Regulation (EC) No 10/2011, with overall migration ≤ 10 mg/dm²; compostable claims require EN 13432:2000/AC:2005 disintegration and ISO 14855-1:2012 biodegradation. The process conflict is jig temperature deviation of ±5 °C, which produces visible rim warpage; if crystallisation is incomplete, the lid softens upon contact with liquid at 85 °C and loses thread engagement. End products are 80 mm and 90 mm disposable lids for compostable coffee and tea cups, often paired with PLA-coated paper cups.
Feedstock conversion of Luminy PLA LX530 into monofilament for fused filament fabrication is a downstream route in which consistency of melt viscosity determines two-axis laser-gauge yield. The compound comprises LX530 at 93–97 wt%, 3–7 wt% mineral nucleant concentrate, and ≤ 0.5 wt% antioxidant masterbatch. Compounding is run on a co-rotating twin-screw extruder with 36:1 L/D, a barrel temperature profile from 170–195 °C feed-to-die, and vacuum devolatilisation at −0.08 MPa to strip residual moisture and free lactide. The strand is pelletised and redried to ≤ 200 ppm moisture before filament extrusion at 1.75 ± 0.05 mm or 2.85 ± 0.10 mm; diameter is continuously monitored with two-axis laser gauges at 10 Hz sampling, and off-spec sections are rejected on-line before winding onto 750 g spools. Compliance for non-food articles is restricted to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH) and Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS) Annex II; no food-contact claim is triggered because the final articles are not food-contact materials. The grade’s low D-isomer fraction improves crystallisation during forced-air annealing of printed parts, but published data for this specific configuration is limited; die swell and melt strength must be characterised per lot because PLA melt elasticity is lower than ABS and nylon alternatives. End products are annealable high-heat PLA filament spools for short-run jigs, fixtures, and prototype tooling where the part is post-crystallised at 90–110 °C for 10–30 minutes.
Disposable cutlery conversion from Luminy PLA LX530 is always coupled with an offline crystallisation step after demoulding because the amorphous moulding lacks sufficient heat resistance for hot-liquid contact. The stock is injection moulded at melt temperature 200–220 °C, mould temperature 25–35 °C, and part thickness 2.0–3.0 mm. The formulation uses LX530 at 100 wt% for clear or low-pigment items, or 97–99 wt% with food-grade brown/black masterbatch; plasticizer and impact modifier are excluded because either suppresses heat resistance. After ejection, parts are packed in stainless-steel baskets at a loading density below 40 kg/m³ and annealed at 90–100 °C for 30–60 minutes under forced air with an air velocity of 2–4 m/s to maintain thermal uniformity. This spherulitic crystallinity allows spoons and forks to withstand 30-minute immersion in water at 85 °C without distortion. Compliance pathways include Regulation (EC) No 10/2011 for food-contact plastics and EN 13432:2000/AC:2005 for compostable serviceware; flexural strength for annealed spoons is tested per ISO 178:2019, with acceptance values typically above 80 MPa. The process conflict is oven loading density: above 40 kg/m³, forced-air cold spots leave under-crystallised handles that bend against the sidewall of a hot soup cup. End products are compostable forks, spoons, knives, stirrers, and sporks for foodservice distribution.
Monolayer sheet conversion of Luminy PLA LX530 for frozen meal trays is run on a single-screw extruder with 33:1 L/D and a coat-hanger die of 600–1000 mm width. The sheet formulation keeps LX530 at 95–97 wt%, with 3–5 wt% impact modifier concentrate where low-temperature drop resistance is specified; impact modification reduces heat resistance, so this route is limited to frozen and refrigerated tray formats. Die melt temperature is 195–215 °C; excursions above 230 °C generate lactide monomer volatiles and edge bead instability at the casting section. The melt is deposited on a three-roll stack at 20–35 °C to produce sheet thickness 0.25–0.60 mm, with roll speed matched to die throughput to prevent molecular orientation streaks. Thermoforming downstream operates at draw ratios of 1.4–1.8 with plug assist; sheet surface temperature prior to forming is 80–90 °C. Compliance for frozen food contact is assessed under Regulation (EC) No 10/2011 with overall migration testing per EN 1186-1:2002; U.S. market clearance is handled through a grade-specific food-contact statement, not by generic monomer status. The finish is not ovenable above 60 °C unless the formed tray has undergone a separate crystallisation cycle. End products are 250–500 g frozen meal trays, compartment trays for ready-to-eat items, and snap lids for cold-chain preparations.
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Luminy Polylactic Acid (PLA) LX530 is a high-heat, nucleated PLA grade developed for injection molding and for extruded profiles where in-mold or post-mold crystallization is used to increase thermal resistance. The material is characterized by a melt mass-flow rate of 35 g/10 min at 190 °C and 2.16 kg according to ISO 1133-1, a density of 1.24 g/cm³ according to ISO 1183-1, and a heat deflection temperature of 95 °C at 0.45 MPa after crystallization according to ISO 75-2/B. The values in Table 1 are representative data generated on standardized test specimens and are not specification limits; lot-specific certificates of analysis should control release decisions.
| Property | Test method | Representative value |
|---|---|---|
| Melt mass-flow rate | ISO 1133-1 | 35 g/10 min at 190 °C, 2.16 kg |
| Density | ISO 1183-1 | 1.24 g/cm³ |
| Tensile modulus | ISO 527-2/1A/1 | 3500 MPa |
| Tensile strength at yield | ISO 527-2/1A/1 | 60 MPa |
| Tensile elongation at yield | ISO 527-2/1A/1 | 2 % |
| Notched Charpy impact strength | ISO 179-1/1eA | 2.5 kJ/m² |
| Heat deflection temperature B | ISO 75-2/B | 95 °C at 0.45 MPa |
| Glass transition temperature | ISO 11357-2 | 60 °C |
| Melting temperature | ISO 11357-3 | 175 °C |
LX530 occupies the high-heat segment of the Luminy PLA portfolio. The principal formulation difference is the presence of a nucleating agent combined with a melt viscosity suited to thin-wall filling. In amorphous or non-nucleated PLA grades, the heat deflection temperature under 0.45 MPa remains near 55–60 °C unless annealing is performed. By contrast, LX530 crystallizes during molding at controlled mold temperatures to reach 95 °C HDT B. This shift is accompanied by a change in optical behavior: LX530 parts are translucent to opaque in thick sections, while general-purpose transparent grades retain clarity after rapid cooling. The high melt flow of LX530 also differentiates it from lower-MFR extrusion and thermoforming grades; it permits longer flow lengths in multi-cavity tools but requires attention to gate freeze-off and screw recovery settings.
Moisture is the primary processing boundary. PLA undergoes hydrolytic chain scission when melt-phase moisture exceeds approximately 250 ppm. Pellets exposed to ambient air should be dried in a desiccant dryer at 80 °C for 4–6 h, with a dew point of −30 °C or lower and an airflow of 0.03–0.05 m³/min per kg/h of polymer throughput. The dryer hopper outlet temperature should be verified with an air probe, not a surface thermocouple, because hopper walls can be cooler. If the moisture content of dried pellets exceeds 250 ppm by ISO 15512, drying time should be extended or the desiccant bed should be regenerated.
Melt temperature should be maintained between 180 °C and 210 °C. Barrel zone profiles should avoid local setpoints above 230 °C; at these temperatures, thermal degradation accelerates and molecular weight loss reduces notched Charpy impact strength. Total melt residence time should not exceed 10 min during interruptions. Screw designs with 20:1 to 24:1 L/D, compression ratio of 2.0:1 to 2.8:1, and low-holdup check rings are preferred. Starting settings for a 40 mm diameter injection unit on a 120 t clamp force machine are back pressure 5–15 bar, screw speed 80–150 rpm, and injection speed 50–150 mm/s.
For maximum HDT, the mold surface temperature should be held between 80 °C and 110 °C. Lower mold temperatures, particularly below 60 °C, freeze the amorphous phase and limit crystallinity, resulting in parts that may soften during hot-fill or heated service. Mold temperature uniformity across the cavity should be maintained within ±5 °C because the crystallization window of this grade is narrow. External mold heating with water or oil thermolators is required; electric cartridge heat alone often produces temperature gradients that cause warpage and anisotropic shrinkage.
Before shutdown, the barrel should be purged with a stable polyolefin purge grade at 200 °C to displace PLA from the screw and check ring. Stagnant melt left in a hot barrel at 190 °C for more than 30 min can char and require physical cleaning. Avoid purging with PVC or acetal; PVC releases HCl, and acetal decomposes exothermically. Nozzle temperature should be controlled separately to avoid freeze-off at the nozzle tip.
Typical applications are injection-molded articles requiring short-cycle thermal resistance up to approximately 85 °C under low mechanical load, including single-serve coffee capsules, hot-fill packaging, dairy containers, and serviceware. In these applications, part design must avoid sharp notches and high residual stress. Food-contact suitability is not a property of the polymer alone; final articles must be tested under EU Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 or FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 with the intended food simulants and time–temperature conditions. Published data for specific configurations is limited, so migration testing on the final part is required. Regrind from sprues and runners may be re-introduced up to 20 wt% in non-food-contact applications if dried to 250 ppm moisture; for food-contact articles, the use of re-grind is controlled by the relevant regulation and should be validated.
Isothermal crystallization can be characterized by differential scanning calorimetry according to ISO 11357-7. Published isothermal crystallization half-time data for this specific grade is limited, but fast-crystallizing PLA grades generally show crystallization half-times below 2 min at 100 °C. The supplier should be requested to provide the isothermal crystallization series for mold optimization and cycle-time prediction.
HDT B at 0.45 MPa is a short-term, low-stress thermal indicator; it is not a continuous-use temperature rating. For hot-fill at 85 °C, the part must be crystallized through the wall thickness and must not be under tensile stress from demolding or assembly. Stress concentrations at gate vestiges, weld lines, or metal inserts can initiate environmental stress cracking when hot fatty media are present. For microwave reheating, the food contact surface can exceed 100 °C in localized zones; LX530 should be used only where the food mass moderates surface temperature and where the mechanical load during reheating is negligible.
The crystallization state also affects dimensional stability: amorphous PLA shrinks less in the mold but can undergo post-molding shrinkage when heated. LX530, when crystallized at 80–110 °C, exhibits lower post-molding shrinkage above 60 °C than amorphous grades, but mold shrinkage must be determined on the specific tool because it varies with wall thickness, gate location, and cooling time.
Gate freeze-off is the principal production constraint in high-flow LX530 processing. Because the solidification front advances rapidly, edge gates should be sized at 60–80 % of the part wall thickness, with a land length not exceeding 1 mm. Subsurface or tunnel gates may restrict flow and generate shear heating that locally degrades the melt. Cold slug wells should be at least 1.5 times the runner diameter. Venting of 0.01–0.02 mm depth at the end of fill is required to prevent burn marks and short shots, especially in tools with polished surfaces.
Production lines have exhibited splay when dryer dew point rises above −20 °C, gate blush when injection speed exceeds 150 mm/s on thin-walled parts, and warp in flat lids when mold temperature differentials exceed 5 °C across the cavity. These are processing defects, not material failures, and are corrected by drying, injection profile, and mold thermal uniformity.
Compared with polypropylene, LX530 has lower notched impact strength, lower continuous-use temperature, and higher tensile modulus. Snap-fit features, living hinges, and undercuts designed for polypropylene may fail by brittle fracture unless redesigned. Compared with PET, LX530 processes at lower melt temperature but requires more rigorous drying before processing. The principal substitution benefit is renewable carbon content and industrial compostability when validated for the specific article according to EN 13432; the neat resin cannot be declared compostable until the final article passes disintegration and ecotoxicity requirements. Biobased carbon content can be verified by radiocarbon analysis according to EN 16640 or ISO 16620-1, with actual values confirmed on the supplier certificate.
