Polylactic Acid: Its Applications In The Building Industry

Polylactic Acid: Its Applications In The Building Industry

Pla is a short name for polylactic acid. Polylactic acid is an artificial polymer comprising a sugar and multiple amino acids that when mixed together give rise to large molecular clusters. The word pla comes from two Greek words which mean "dawn" and "plait". Commonly known as polyply, pla is used in a wide variety of industrial products including textiles, synthetic rubber, paint, natural rubber flooring, gaskets, gels, lubricants, adhesives, dry coating, foam, and many more.

Polylactic acid can also be produced synthetically using the polymerisation process called polymerization. Most polyols contain at least one pla molecule attached to another via a sugar catalyst. Polylactic acid is also used in the pharmaceutical and industrial industry in its various forms such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, polyacrylate, polysulfone, polystyrene, and polytetra-acrylate.

Polylactic acids are primarily used in food processing as it helps keep food items fresh by preventing spoilage. In fact, it is widely used as food preservative in many foods including potato chips, pretzels, cookies, cakes, shelf liners, fish food, salad dressings, pickles, meat spreads, mustard, tuna and mackerel, mushroom products, dried fruit, chocolates, ice cream toppings, sauces, custards, marmalade, and many more. It has also been successfully used to replace glucose and other sugar sources in sauces and dressings making it healthier and more cost effective to produce.

Polylactic Acid is commonly used as an additive to petroleum-based products in its form of monomer. This can either be applied as a powder, dissolved in water, or sprayed on. It is known to enhance the shelf life of foods and beverages and makes them taste better. It also has the ability to provide thermal stability, which means that it maintains the consistency and temperature of various products.

Aside from being used for food packaging, Pla can also be used to strengthen rubber and plastic. Some companies even add it to their flooring for added durability and life span. There are some companies that are using Pla in their paints and varnishes as it can create a tough finish without sacrificing the beauty of the product. Its water solubility makes it ideal for use in cleaning and polishing materials.

Aside from being popularly used in food and beverage packaging, Pla has also found application in many industries. In fact, the use of Pla in the building industry has become very popular due to its unique properties. Some builders use Pla to strengthen cement, expand thermal conducting pipes, and as additives in reinforcing concrete. Some construction companies also use polylactic acid as a cheaper and eco-friendly filler for bricks and cement blocks. Although it is still somewhat limited as far as the applications are concerned, it has become more popular to builders and homeowners alike.