Polylactic Acid Price | Current and Forecast
Monitor Polylactic Acid Prices Worldwide
See monthly Polylactic Acid prices in 5 locations: US, China, Europe. Also check Polylactic Acid price history since 2007 and forecasts. Subscribe now to Intratec Primary Commodity Prices and gain access to current prices of 244 commodities, including Polylactic Acid.
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Data Legend. The Polylactic Acid price chart shows the prices in USA Dollar per metric ton (USD/mt) in 3 locations, as follows:
- US: transaction, fob
- China: transaction, cif
- Europe: transaction, cif, Netherlands
Data Use. Polylactic Acid prices are provided as an annual subscription where subscribers have access to reliable pricing data of 244 commodities worldwide. To better understand data provided by Intratec Primary Commodity Prices, check the following documents: Price Assessment Basis , Commodities Specifications , Methodology , User Guide , and Glossary .
Price Dynamics. The Polylactic Acid price in United States increased during September 2018 to 2,000 USD per metric ton, which represents a considerable rise of 9% compared to the previous month’s value. On a year-over-year basis, Polylactic Acid prices in United States decreased modestly by 0.5%. Meanwhile, in China, the average price of Polylactic Acid amounted to 2,180 USD per metric ton, from 2,550 USD per metric ton one year earlier. On a month-over-month basis, the Polylactic Acid price in China is 12% lower than the price one month before.
The price of Polylactic Acid in Netherlands rose slightly throughout September 2018, reaching 1,980 USD per metric ton. The price in Netherlands is 3% higher than the average price in the previous month and 5% higher than the average price one year before.
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About Polylactic Acid. Polylactic Acid (a.k.a. PLA, Polylactide) is a thermoplastic aliphatic polyester. It is different than most thermoplastic in that it is a bioplastic, which means it is derived from a number of renewed biomass like starch and sugar cane via bacterial lactic fermentation. It is semi crystalline or amorphous, rigid, resilient and ultraviolet light resistant material, with similar characteristics to common petrochemical industry plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene. Polylactic acid is used in plastic films, bottles and biodegradable medical devices. It figures among the most consumed bioplastics worldwide. Also, it is widely used as a material in 3D printing and bioprinting.
This biodegradable polyester can be synthesized via two major routes. The main production route of high molecular weight PLA is based on an initial polycondensation of lactic acid, followed by a depolymerization at reduced pressure and a ring-opening polymerization step. The other route is based on a direct polymerization of lactic acid by polycondensation. Most companies employ the indirect route, since the production of high molecular weight polymers is difficult via direct polymerization. High molecular weight Polylactic Acid is a colorless, glossy, rigid thermoplastic material with properties similar to polystyrene. Optically pure polymers such as poly(L-lactic acid) and poly(D-lactic acid) exhibit more suitable physical properties for commercial use.
The stereochemical structure of Polylactic Acid can easily be modified by the polymerization of a controlled mixture of L- or D-isomers, in such a way that the properties of PLA can be easily tunned to meet a broad range of applications. In fact, a wide range of products with different properties can be obtained from PLA with different D/L ratios.
PLA rapidly absorbs moisture from the atmosphere and it’s also temperature sensitive (storage temperatures should be controlled to below 50 ºC). In order to preserve PLA properties and characteristics, exposure to ambient (undried) air should be minimized. PLA is usually delivered in moisture-resistant containers, including foil-lined boxes, which can prevent moisture regain during shipping and storage.
Two main routes have been developed to convert lactic acid to PLA. In the indirect route lactic acid is first converted to lactide and then polymerized to PLA. The second route is the direct polymerization of lactic acid by polycondensation. Several pathways arouse from the integration with lactid acid production. Raw materials and the respective production processes employed in the manufacturing of Polylactic Acid are listed below.
- Lactic Acid (melt-phase polymerization process),
- Sugar Source (for Latic Acid production via fermentation, followed by polymerization)
The uses and applications of Polylactic Acid may vary according to its specification. The main forms of Polylactic Acid are film grade (for food packing); and high-performance grades (PS, PP and ABS replacement).
Polylactic Acid is mainly used as packaging; textiles; nonwovens; electronics; automotive parts; medicine; monofilament fishing line; cutlery; and 3D printing. Packaging is the largest application market nowadays, and it is believed that its application will keep increasing with the development of new heat resistant Polylactic Acid blends.
