The glass-fiber-reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers
have greater strength, stiffness, and thermal performance than
unmodified PLA. The compounds are fully colorable and have 10%
to 40% glass fiber. The 30% glass-fiber-reinforced PLA grade has
tensile strength of 16.5 ksi, nearly twice that of unmodified
PLA. Flexural modulus is 1,630 ksi and heat deflection
temperature (HDT) is 320°F at 66 psi, 200°F above that of the
unmodified version. Proprietary nucleation packages speed
crystallization for quicker part ejection, so  injection-molding
cycle time is similar to that of PP and ABS.  RTP Co., 580 East
Front St., Winona, MN 55987, (507) 454-6900,