Heat-resistant Thermoplastic

About

Heat-resistant thermoplastic, plastic that can withstand high temperatures, can be made from renewable and biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) using a process developed by University of Minnesota researchers. This heat resistant PLA is derived from the material lactide found in biomass such as corn starch, sugar, wheat, and sugar beets. This thermoplastic is an eco friendly alternative to Styrofoam or petroleum-based plastic due to the environmentally friendly creation process and the available renewable biomass sources. The PLA, created using our patent pending process, can withstand temperatures of up to 110 [C] (230 [F] ), so can be used to create any plastic object, including those that will be filled with hot liquids or otherwise exposed to high temperatures such as a cups, packages, bottles, or medical devices. Typical PLA has a melting temperature of around 60 [C] (140 [F]), and so their uses are limited. Additionally, this thermoplastic is renewable, biodegradable, and is inexpensive to create because lactide is the starting material and is obtained easily from biomass (corn stalks, sugar cane, wheat, sugar beets etc.).