Cyclic diester monomer — the direct building block of PLA (polylactic acid) bioplastic.
Product Overview
Lactide is the cyclic di-ester of lactic acid and the critical intermediate in the industrial synthesis of PLA (polylactic acid). Our lactide is produced by controlled oligomerisation and depolymerisation of our own polymer-grade lactic acid, followed by melt crystallisation and vacuum purification.
By separating the optical isomers, we offer pure L-lactide, pure D-lactide, and meso-lactide grades — enabling customers to precisely tune the crystallinity, melting point, and degradation rate of their PLA products.
Ultra-low water content (<100 ppm), minimal residual lactic acid, and narrow molecular weight distribution are essential for the ring-opening polymerisation step that produces high-molecular-weight PLA.
Key Features
L-, D-, and meso-lactide for crystalline, amorphous, and blended PLA.
<100 ppm — critical for high-Mw ROP polymerisation.
≥ 99.5% for L- and D-lactide.
No residual solvents or catalyst contamination.
Uniform flakes for controlled melting in reactor feed.
Skip the polycondensation step — go directly to high-Mw PLA.
Specifications
Every lot ships with a Certificate of Analysis verifying these parameters. Typical specification — customised grades available on request.
| Appearance | White crystalline flakes |
| Purity (L- or D-lactide) | ≥ 99.5% |
| Optical purity | ≥ 99.0% |
| Water content | ≤ 100 ppm |
| Free acid (as lactic acid) | ≤ 20 meq/kg |
| Colour (molten, APHA) | ≤ 20 |
| Meso-lactide (in L-lactide) | ≤ 0.5% |
| Metal impurities (total) | ≤ 10 ppm |
| Melting point | 95 – 99 °C (L-lactide) |
Applications
Ring-opening polymerisation to high-molecular-weight PLA resin.
Biodegradable PLGA copolymers for controlled-release pharmaceuticals.
Resorbable sutures, bone screws, and tissue-engineering scaffolds.
Feedstock for custom block copolymers and biodegradable coatings.
Moisture-barrier aluminium-foil-lined bags (25 kg), nitrogen-purged. Inner PE liner. Handle under dry atmosphere.
Dry warehouse < 15 °C, original sealed packaging under N₂. Shelf life: 12 months unopened.
Request a Quote
Tell us about your application and required quantity. Our sales team will respond within one business day with a spec sheet, indicative price, and available shipment options.
Our sales team will respond within one business day.
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