3D printing
As a new type of bio-based and renewable biodegradable material, PLA+ material is more enverimantally friendly than other materials and has a good biocompatibility, gloss, transparency, handle and heat resistance.
Figure 1. 3D-printed castles
Artificial bone
Powder with 75wt%PLA and 25wt% calcium carbonate can be used to develop 3D scaffolds for repairing bone defects in human body. SLS can produce complex and precise shapes, but there are few biocompatible materials available. This material solves that problem.It is a good material for selective laser sintering and has excellent biocompatibility. The composite powder could be used to make patient-specific implants, which could be used as a medical device to promote the healing of bone defects.[13]
Figure 2. A mixture of PLA and calcium carbonate is produced by 3D printing as a replacement for bone tissue
In addition to SLS technology, the material is ideal for 3D printing.3D printing can produce fine structures similar to SLS for bone restoration in the human body.
Figure 3. Some items made of PLA produced by 3D printing
Drug delivery
Because of its excellent biocompatibility, PLA+ can be used to make sutures used in surgery. PLA+ microspheres can be used as embolization spheres to treat tumors. At the same time, PLA microspheres also play an important role in drug development centers. Placing drugs in the microspheres can extend the action time of drugs.
Figure 4. Medical sutures made by PLA
Others
The hybrid material of PLA and PCL can be used to make biodegradable kraft paper and coating abrasives, which is a good substitute for petroleum products. PCL makes the brittle PLA become ductile due to plasticizing, which enhances the physical properties of PLA. In addition, the material also exhibits better thermal sealing properties. When the PCL mass fraction is 10%, the material has the best performance.[14]
Figure 5. The wear-resistant material made by PLA
Figure 6. Containers made with the PLA
Reference
[13] Gayer, C., Ritter, J., Bullemer, M., Grom, S., Jauer, L., Meiners, W., Pfister, A., Reinauer, F., Vučak, M., Wissenbach, K., Fischer, H., Poprawe, R. and Schleifenbaum, J., 2019. Development of a solvent-free polylactide/calcium carbonate composite for selective laser sintering of bone tissue engineering scaffolds. Materials Science and Engineering: C, 101, pp.660-673.
[14]Sundar, N., Keerthana, P., Kumar, S., Kumar, G. and Ghosh, S., 2020. Dual purpose, bio-based polylactic acid (PLA)-polycaprolactone (PCL) blends for coated abrasive and packaging industrial coating applications. Journal of Polymer Research, 27(12).