New PLA Film Excites Convex Plastics
Convex Plastics, October 21st, 2009A new fully bio-degradable Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) film offering two of the most sought after attributes for retail applications - good clarity and high tear strength - is now available from Convex Plastics.
The new PLA film is made from a resin formulation that Convex sourced offshore as part of their ongoing development of bio-degradable films. A newly developed liquid plasticisier (made from vegetable oil) has been blended in to the resin to make it more flexible.
Convex Technical Manager, Andrew Sheerin says, “ We are really excited to have found this film because it offers some of the key functionality that people have been waiting for. The liquid plasticiser makes the film really soft and subtle without comprising the high clarity of the standard PLA film.”
Although able to provide the high clarity required by most commercial users, Andrew says PLA film, made from fermented corn, is normally very brittle and challenging to handle, seal and process. This has limited the film’s commercial uses and driven Convex to search ways to make the film more functional while still maintaining the good shelf visibility.
Andrew says, “We are continuing to explore all avenues to enable us to source and develop a wide range of biodegradable films. Our ultimate aim is be able to offer a functional and commercially viable eco-friendly solution for almost every packaging application.”
Convex is continuing to work with the Plastics Centre of Excellence at the University of Auckland to develop a different PLA formula that will maximise the processing performance of PLA, and those trials are showing some promising results as well.
If you would like a sample of the new good clarity and high tear strength PLA please contact Andrew Sheerin at Convex Plastics on: 07 958 1770, Mob. 021 190 3898 or andrew.s@convex.co.nz.