PARALOID™ BPM-500Acrylic Impact Modifier for Polylactic Acid Resin

The Dow Chemical Company brings over 30 years of expertise in acrylic impact modifiers to developing the next generation of market-responsive additives that unlock the performance potential of sustainable materials.

PARALOID™ BPM-500 Acrylic Impact Modifier is specially designed to help improve the impact resistance of Polylactic Acid (PLA) resin used in the industry and more specifically for transparent packaging applications.

Due to its unique morphology, PLA blended with PARALOID BPM-500 Modifier improves impact properties without sacrificing the transparency of the product. In addition to better impact properties, PLA modified with PARALOID BPM-500 Modifier shows a marked improvement in cutting and slitting as well as increased flexibility.

PARALOID BPM-500 provides the needed performance to allow a broader use of resins derived from renewable resources.

Product Description

Applications / UsesPARALOID™ BPM-500 Modifier is especially useful in applications where a balance between toughness and transparency is a key. These include packaging applications, as well as industrial and consumer goods.

Impact PerformanceImproved impact properties are obtained with addition levels as low as 3 wt%. Excellent impact performance is obtained at higher use levels: the impact strength of PLA is increased three-fold using PARALOID™ BPM-500 Modifier at 5 wt% loading.

Tear ResistancePARALOID™ BPM-500 Modifier enhances the tear resistance and the cut-ability of extruded PLA sheets. The brittle nature of pure PLA often leads to rough, uneven sheet edges during cutting and handling. The addition of PARALOID BPM-500 Modifier increases the resistance of the film to tearing and improves cutting.

15.00

10.00

5.00

0.000.0% 5.0% 7.5%

Dar

t Dro

p Im

pact

wt% PARALOID™ BPM-500 Acrylic Impact Modifier

6.00

8.00

4.00

2.00

0.000.0% 5.0% 7.5%

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d %

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aze

wt% PARALOID™ BPM-500 Acrylic Impact Modifier

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0.0% 5.0% 7.5%

Ave

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wt% PARALOID™ BPM-500 Acrylic Impact Modifier

Table 1 Elmendorf tear resistance (ASTM 1922) Extruded 4042D PLA sheet, 15 mil thickness

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0.000.0% 5.0% 7.5%

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wt% PARALOID™ BPM-500 Acrylic Impact Modifier

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0.000.0% 5.0% 7.5%

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wt% PARALOID™ BPM-500 Acrylic Impact Modifier

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wt% PARALOID™ BPM-500 Acrylic Impact Modifier

Figure 1 Dart drop impact (ASTM 5420) for PLA modified with PARALOID BPM-500

Extruded 4042D PLA sheet, 15 mil thickness

Dart Drop Impact

Neat PLA

Brittle failure

5 wt% PARALOID™ BPM-500 Modifier loading

Ductile failure

Tear Test

Neat PLA5 wt% PARALOID™ BPM-500 Modifier loading

% PARALOID™ BPM-500 0 5 7.5

Ave Tear Force (grms-force) 208 550 922

Product DescriptionOptical PropertiesThe addition of PARALOID™ BPM-500 Modifier in PLA has minimal effect on the clarity of PLA film due to its extremely small particle size and excellent dispersability. The haze measured on a 15 mil extruded sheet is less than 6% for up to 5 wt% of PARALOID BPM-500 Modifier loading.

Physical DescriptionAppearance: Free flowing white powder

Bulk Density: 0.48–0.56 g/cm3

Total residual volatiles: <1 wt%

Processing InformationPARALOID™ BPM-500 Modifier is supplied in a free-flowing powder form. The additive is easily dispersed into PLA by controlled addition during melt mixing in a twin screw extruder. A typical heating profile for the twin screw extruder is shown in the table that follows.

For processing with PLA on a single screw extruder or other processing equipment, it is recommended to blend pre-compounded PARALOID BPM-500 Modifier in PLA.

The addition of PARALOID BPM-500 Modifier at the recommended use levels under typical processing conditions does not affect the thermal stability of PLA.

It is recommended that both the PARALOID BPM-500 Modifier and the PLA resin be thoroughly dried to below 250 ppm moisture before compounding.

Figure 2 Haze measured on a 15 mil extruded sheet

15.00

10.00

5.00

0.000.0% 5.0% 7.5%

Dar

t Dro

p Im

pact

wt% PARALOID™ BPM-500 Acrylic Impact Modifier

6.00

8.00

4.00

2.00

0.000.0% 5.0% 7.5%

Mea

sure

d %

of H

aze

wt% PARALOID™ BPM-500 Acrylic Impact Modifier

600

300

200

0

100

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0.0% 5.0% 7.5%

Ave

Tear

For

ce (g

rms-

forc

e)

wt% PARALOID™ BPM-500 Acrylic Impact Modifier

Neat PLA5 wt% PARALOID™ BPM-500 loading

Regulatory CompliancePARALOID™ BPM-500 Modifier complies with Commission Regulation (EU) 10/2011 of 14 January 2011, which governs plastic food contact materials in the European Union. In compliance with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements, PARALOID BPM-500 Modifier may be used up to 10% in resins (maximum thickness of 20 mil) that are in contact with all types of food at room temperature and below. We recommend that you verify the latest regulatory compliance with your local Dow Chemical representative.

Storage, Handling and SafetyRefer to the MSDS for guidelines

Table 2 Recommended twin-screw extruder temperature profile

Zone 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

T°C 150 180 190 200 200 200 200 200

The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) makes no warranties, either expressed or implied as to the accuracy or appropriateness of this data and expressly excludes any liability upon Dow arising out of its use. We recommend that the prospective users determine for themselves the suitability of Dow materials and suggestions for any use prior to their adoption. Suggestions for uses of our products or the inclusion of descriptive material from patents and the citation of specific patents in this publication should not be understood as recommending the use of our products in violation of any patent or as permission or license to use any patents of Dow. Material data safety sheets outlining the hazards and handling methods for our products are available on request.

®™ Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow Form No. 874-03801-0111

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