VeryGreen™ VG7262U High Impact General Purpose Polylactic Acid is a pelletized, impact-modified PLA compound designated for injection moulding and sheet extrusion of semi-structural consumer and industrial components. The formulation combines polylactic acid with a dispersed impact-modifier phase and a nucleating/stabilizer package; the compound is not a plasticized or unfilled grade. Processing and property data are referenced to conditioned test specimens at 23 °C ± 2 °C and 50 % ± 5 % relative humidity unless otherwise specified. Application scope includes thin-wall housings, fasteners, clips, packaging, and reusable consumer goods where unmodified PLA fails in drop or snap-fit loading. The grade is differentiated from standard PLA by a notched impact resistance approximately five to seven times higher than unmodified material, while retaining a melt processing window compatible with conventional reciprocating-screw injection moulding machines. Compliance with the requirements of REACH and RoHS 2011/65/EU is formulation-dependent and must be confirmed through the supplier’s extended safety documentation for the exact production lot.

What Mechanical and Rheological Property Envelope Is Published for VeryGreen VG7262U?

Published technical data for VG7262U, obtained using specimens conditioned at 23 °C ± 2 °C and 50 % ± 5 % relative humidity, list a density of 1.24 g/cm³ under ISO 1183-1:2019. Melt flow rate tested at 210 °C with a 2.16 kg load under ISO 1133-1:2022 is reported in the range of 15 g/10 min to 25 g/10 min; this range is sufficiently high for thin-wall fill but lower than many high-flow PLA grades, reflecting the molecular weight retention required for impact resistance. Tensile strength and tensile modulus are characterized under ISO 527-2:2012 using Type 1A specimens at 5 mm/min. The reported tensile strength is 45 MPa to 50 MPa, and the tensile modulus is 2.6 GPa to 2.9 GPa. Notched Izod impact strength under ISO 180/A:2019 is listed in the range of 25 kJ/m² to 35 kJ/m² at 23 °C. Heat deflection temperature at 0.45 MPa under ISO 75-2/B:2013 is in the range of 75 °C to 85 °C, and Vicat softening temperature under ISO 306:2022 method A50 is 60 °C to 65 °C. Glass transition temperature measured by differential scanning calorimetry under ISO 11357-2:2020 is approximately 58 °C to 62 °C. These values are single-point catalogue references; production-lot variation and specimen preparation history can shift the impact values by 10 % to 15 % relative to the listed median. Capillary rheometry under ISO 11443:2021 is recommended before changing gate dimensions or runner balance because the shear-thinning response of impact-modified PLA is not sufficiently captured by melt flow rate alone.

When VG7262U Is Processed on Production-Scale Injection Moulding and Extrusion Lines

Processing observations on a 1,200 kN reciprocating-screw injection moulding machine with a 30 mm diameter general-purpose screw and 20:1 L/D ratio indicate that the compound should be introduced through a closed resin handling system after pre-drying. Barrel temperature profiles from feed to nozzle are typically set at 180 °C, 200 °C, 210 °C, 215 °C, 210 °C. Melt temperature measured by an insertion thermocouple should remain between 195 °C and 220 °C. Melt temperatures below 190 °C increase screw recovery torque and produce visible cold-slug defects in thin sections. Melt temperatures above 225 °C initiate thermal degradation of the impact-modifier domains and accelerate molecular weight loss of the PLA matrix, producing yellowing and an acidic odor. Mold temperature is commonly maintained at 20 °C to 40 °C; temperatures above 50 °C extend cycle time and may cause sink marks in thick bosses. A back pressure of 0.5 MPa to 1.0 MPa improves distributive mixing of the impact modifier but excessive back pressure above 1.5 MPa generates shear heating and melt-temperature overshoot. Injection speed should be moderate; extremely high injection speed produces jetting and surface delamination in parts with wall thickness below 1.2 mm. The observed failure mode on a production line with an 80 °C dryer setpoint was splay on the part surface when the drying hopper was left open for more than 30 min at ambient relative humidity above 60 %. Melt residence time at temperature should not exceed 5 min; start-up after interruption longer than 15 min requires a purge sequence using a low-melt-flow HDPE purge grade or a PLA purge compound. Do not purge with acetal or PVC because residual acidic or chlorinated species accelerate degradation of the polyester matrix.

On a co-rotating twin-screw extrusion line with 40:1 L/D and a vented barrel, the recommended melt temperature is 185 °C to 205 °C, with the first zone at 170 °C and die temperature at 195 °C. Vacuum venting below −0.08 MPa gauge is used to remove residual moisture. In sheet thicknesses below 1.0 mm, chill-roll temperatures of 25 °C to 35 °C prevent blocking and maintain flatness. No pre-compounding is required; the pellets are fed directly from the dryer to the machine feed throat.

Moisture uptake in VG7262U is governed by the same ester-carbonyl hydrogen-bonding mechanism as unmodified PLA. Equilibrium moisture content at 23 °C and 50 % relative humidity is approximately 0.25 % w/w; at 80 % relative humidity the equilibrium value approaches 0.5 % w/w. Pre-drying is mandatory because melt-state hydrolysis can reduce number-average molecular weight by 30 % to 50 % within a single heat history when moisture exceeds 0.05 % w/w as measured by Karl Fischer titration under ISO 15512:2019. A desiccant dryer with a dew point of −40 °C or lower should deliver 80 °C for 4 h to reach a target moisture content below 0.025 % w/w. At ambient relative humidity above 60 %, drying time should be extended to 6 h to 8 h, and the dried pellets should be transferred through insulated lines to a heated hopper. The operational boundary is defined by the short open-time of dried pellets; exposure to uncontrolled ambient air for more than 30 min at 60 % RH can reintroduce enough moisture to produce visible splay and weld-line embrittlement in moulded parts. Batches stored in damaged or previously opened packaging should be sampled for moisture content before the dryer is charged. The observed failure pattern on a production line with a 100 kg/h throughput dryer was intermittent foam-like surface texture on parts when the desiccant bed had not been regenerated for 8 h; this resolved after desiccant regeneration and a residual moisture check. At melt temperatures above 220 °C, the rate of hydrolytic chain scission increases markedly; residence times beyond 5 min are associated with measurable melt-flow-rate drift and reduced notched Izod values on moulded specimens. Published data for this specific configuration is limited, but the threshold is consistent with PLA hydrolysis behavior.

Comparative Positioning Against Unmodified PLA, ABS, and Other Impact-Modified PLA Grades

A direct comparison of the VG7262U property envelope with an unmodified PLA grade under the same test methods shows a trade-off between stiffness and impact resistance. Unmodified PLA typically exhibits notched Izod impact strength of 2 kJ/m² to 5 kJ/m², tensile modulus of 3.4 GPa to 3.6 GPa, and tensile strength of 55 MPa to 65 MPa. VG7262U moves impact resistance to 25 kJ/m² to 35 kJ/m² while tensile modulus declines to 2.6 GPa to 2.9 GPa and tensile strength falls to 45 MPa to 50 MPa. This is caused by the low-modulus elastomer domains that arrest crack propagation. Compared to a highly impact-modified PLA grade with notched Izod values above 50 kJ/m², VG7262U retains a higher tensile modulus and lower melt viscosity, which supports injection moulding of thin-wall parts with wall thickness below 1.5 mm. Compared to ABS, VG7262U has a higher density of 1.24 g/cm³ versus 1.04 g/cm³ to 1.07 g/cm³, a lower heat deflection temperature at 0.45 MPa, and similar notched Izod impact strength in the lower portion of the ABS range. The processing advantage over ABS is the lower melt temperature and the absence of styrene off-gassing, but the operational limitation is the narrower thermal window and moisture sensitivity. Selection against general-purpose PLA and ABS should be based on drop-impact test data under ASTM D2463 or instrumented puncture testing under ISO 6603-2:2023, not solely on datasheet notched Izod values. For direct data on VG7262U in food-contact or long-term outdoor exposure, published data for this specific configuration is limited; project-specific testing is required.

Regulatory compliance for VG7262U must be addressed at the finished-article level because polymer additives, colorants, and conversion residues influence final regulatory status. The supplier’s safety data sheet should be reviewed for REACH registration and authorization substances; RoHS 2011/65/EU heavy-metal thresholds apply to the homogeneous material and are typically satisfied by unfilled PLA compounds of this class, but production-lot verification is required. For food-contact applications, the converter must determine whether the final article meets the overall migration limit of 10 mg/dm² under EN 1186-1:2002 or the applicable food-contact notification under FDA 21 CFR 177.1520, because PLA is not automatically cleared for all food types. Operational incompatibilities include amine-based lubricants, which can accelerate ester cleavage and reduce molecular weight; strong acids and bases, which promote hydrolysis; and prolonged exposure to UV radiation, which embrittles the PLA matrix unless a UV stabilizer masterbatch is incorporated at the letdown ratio specified by the stabilizer supplier. Continuous service above 55 °C to 60 °C is not recommended for load-bearing components because creep modulus decreases significantly near the glass transition temperature. Hot-fill packaging, dishwasher-intensive applications, and parts exposed to boiling water are outside the intended performance boundary. For outdoor applications, weathering program validation under ISO 4892-2:2013 cycle 1 is required before commercial deployment.

Thin-wall electronic housings with snap-fit lugs and internal bosses represent a demonstrated application window for VG7262U. Production trials on a 1,200 kN hydraulic injection machine using a 32 mm screw and a two-cavity cold-runner tool produced parts with wall thickness 1.2 mm to 1.8 mm and a cycle time of 28 s to 35 s. The critical process variables were a melt temperature of 205 °C to 215 °C, mold temperature of 30 °C, and a cushion of 4 mm to 6 mm. Snap-fit assembly trials under a 10 N insertion force and 5,000 cycle repeated engagement test showed cracking when moisture content exceeded 0.04 % w/w; the same tool with dried pellets held without failure. This behavior confirms that the processing constraint rather than the material’s ambient impact rating is the primary predictor of assembly performance.