Abstract: An aliphatic polyester resin composition, useful for producing molded articles without causing deformation at the mold release time, has a non-copolymerized mixture of an aliphatic polyester resin including one or more polylactic acid resins and a crystallization nucleating agent including one or more metal salts of an aromatic sulfonate of Formula 1: where X is a residual group obtained by removing three hydrogen atoms from benzene, R1 and R2 are each hydrocarbon group with 1-6 carbon atoms, M is one or more selected from the group of potassium atom, rubidium atom, barium atom, strontium atom and calcium atom, and n is 1 if M is alkali metal atom and 2 if M is alkali earth metal atom; the aliphatic polyester resin composition contains 0.01-5 weight parts of the one or more metal salts of aromatic sulfonate shown by Formula 1 for 100 weight parts of the aliphatic polyester resin.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for manufacturing a molded woody article, which includes compression molding a base material containing wood fibers, polylactic acid fibers and an inorganic filler at a temperature not less than a melting point of the polylactic acid fibers, and maintaining the molded base material at a temperature close to a crystallization temperature of the polylactic acid fibers for a desired period of time, thereby crystallizing the polylactic acid fibers. In the molding step, the base material is entirely deformed and molded into a desired shape while the polylactic acid fibers are melted, and in the crystallizing step, the polylactic acid fibers are solidified, thereby producing the molded article. In the crystallizing step, polylactic acid crystallizes rapidly and reliably utilizing the inorganic filler as a crystal nucleating agent.

Abstract: A polylactic acid resin composition in which polylactic acid is blended with dibasic acid bis(benzoylhydrazide) represented by general formula (I) below; and a process for producing heat-resistant polylactic acid resin moldings, wherein after the polylactic acid resin composition is melted, the polylactic acid resin composition melted is filled in a die of a molding machine and molded accompanied with crystallization, in which the temperature of the die has been set in a range not higher than the initiation temperature of crystallization and not lower than the glass transition temperature determined with a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC).

Abstract: This invention provides a polylactic acid resin composition in which stereocomplex crystals of poly-L-lactic acid and poly-D-lactic acid can be selectively crystallized to obtain polylactic acid having a sufficiently high speed of crystallization and a sufficiently high ratio of stereocomplex crystal and a molded article thereof obtained via melt molding and crystallization of the same. Such polylactic acid resin composition comprises polylactic acid capable of generating stereocomplex crystallization and an aromatic urea compound represented by formula (1): wherein R1 represents an alkylene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R2 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 25 carbon atoms; and m is an integer between 1 to 6.

Abstract: A polylactic acid resin composition in which polylactic acid is blended with dibasic acid bis(benzoylhydrazide) represented by general formula (I) below; and a process for producing heat-resistant polylactic acid resin moldings, wherein after the polylactic acid resin composition is melted, the polylactic acid resin composition melted is filled in a die of a molding machine and molded accompanied with crystallization, in which the temperature of the die has been set in a range not higher than the initiation temperature of crystallization and not lower than the glass transition temperature determined with a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC).

Abstract: To provide a fiberboard capable of reducing a load on the environment at all states of producing, using, and abolishing and moreover having a high degree of bending strength and a high bending-strength retention rate at high temperature and high humidity so as to be usable for an automobile interior material or building material and a fiber-board producing method. The fiberboard is formed by mixing natural fiber with polylactic acid resin serving as a binder and has an apparent density of 0.2 g/cm3.

Abstract: This invention provides a polylactic acid resin composition in which stereocomplex crystals of poly-L-lactic acid and poly-D-lactic acid can be selectively crystallized to obtain polylactic acid having a sufficiently high speed of crystallization and a sufficiently high ratio of stereocomplex crystal and a molded article thereof obtained via melt molding and crystallization of the same. Such polylactic acid resin composition comprises polylactic acid capable of generating stereocomplex crystallization and an aromatic urea compound represented by formula (1): wherein R1 represents an alkylene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R2 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 25 carbon atoms; and m is an integer between 1 to 6.

Abstract: Molded articles with improved physical characteristics are obtained under molding conditions for general resin without causing deformation at the mold releasing time if a composition containing aliphatic polyester resin and one or more metal salts of aromatic sulfonate of a specified kind is used. Such a composition is placed inside a mold maintained at a temperature below the crystallization-initiating temperature by differential scanning calorimetry and above the glass transition temperature is molded while it crystallizes.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a molded woody article. The method includes compression molding a base material containing wood fibers, polylactic acid fibers and an inorganic filler at a temperature not less than a melting point of said polylactic acid fibers, and maintaining said molded base material at a temperature close to a crystallization temperature of said polylactic acid fibers for a desired period of time, thereby crystallizing the polylactic acid fibers. In the molding step, the base material is entirely deformed and molded into a desired shape while the polylactic acid fibers are melted, and in the crystallizing step, the polylactic acid fibers are solidified, thereby producing the molded article. In the crystallizing step, polylactic acid crystallizes rapidly and reliably utilizing the inorganic filler as a crystal nucleating agent. Polylactic acid crystallizes from portions contacting the wood fibers.

Abstract: There are provided a polylactic acid resin composition in which stereocrystals of poly-L-lactic acid and poly-D-lactic acid can be selectively crystallized to obtain polylactic acid having a sufficiently high stereocrystals ratio, a process for producing the same, and a polylactic acid molded article obtained from the same having a sufficiently high stereocrystals ratio. The polylactic acid resin composition is characterized by comprising a polylactic acid-lamellar clay mineral bonded body consisting of a lamellar clay mineral and one of poly-L-lactic acid and poly-D-lactic acid which is bonded to the lamellar clay mineral, and the other of poly-L-lactic acid and poly-D-lactic acid which is not bonded to the lamellar clay mineral.

Abstract: The polylactic acid composite material of the present invention comprises a polylactic acid, a low molecular weight compound which has an amide group, and a layered clay mineral that is organically modified by means of an organic onium salt. As a result, a polylactic acid composite material that has a sufficiently rapid crystallization rate, and that is superior in terms of heat resistance, moldability and mold release characteristics can be obtained.

Abstract: A polylactic acid resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a polylactic acid, (A) 0 to 10 parts by weight of a phenol antioxidant, and (B) 0.

Abstract: A polylactic acid-based resin composition is provided from which molded articles with a high heat resistance and high impact strength can be molded with improved moldability. Also provided is a heat-resistant polylactic acid-based resin molded article manufactured from the polylactic acid-based resin composition, as well as a process for manufacturing such a heat-resistant molded article. A polylactic acid-based resin composition comprising 0.01 to 5.0 parts by weight of a metal phosphate and 0.01 to 5.0 parts by weight of a basic inorganic aluminum compound, each serving as a nucleating agent, with respect to 100 parts by weight of a polylactic acid-based polymer. The polylactic acid-based resin composition is melted and filled a mold of a molding machine set in a temperature range of not more than the crystallization-initiating point nor less than the glass transition point, as measured by a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), to be molded the composition under crystallizing.

Abstract: A polylactic acid resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a polylactic acid, (A) 0 to 10 parts by weight of a phenol antioxidant, and (B) 0.

Abstract: To provide a fiberboard capable of reducing a load on the environment at all states of producing, using, and abolishing and moreover having a high degree of bending strength and a high bending-strength retention rate at high temperature and high humidity so as to be usable for an automobile interior material or building material and a fiber-board producing method. The fiberboard is formed by mixing natural fiber with polylactic acid resin serving as a binder and has an apparent density of 0.2 g/cm3.

Abstract: The polylactic acid composite material of the present invention comprises a polylactic acid, a low molecular weight compound which has an amide group, and a layered clay mineral that is organically modified by means of an organic onium salt. As a result, a polylactic acid composite material that has a sufficiently rapid crystallization rate, and that is superior in terms of heat resistance, moldability and mold release characteristics can be obtained.

Abstract: The toner for electrophotography includes a polylactic acid type resin, a terpene-phenol copolymer, and at least one kind of wax. A melting point of at least one kind of the wax is equal to or less than a softening temperature of the terpene-phenol copolymer. It is preferable that a molar fraction of one of L-lactic acid unit and D-lactic acid unit with respect to a total lactic acid unit in the polylactic acid type resin is in the range between about 85 mol % and about 100 mol %. Also, it is preferable that the total amount of the wax in the toner is in the range between about 7-20% by weight with respect to toner particles.

Abstract: Toner used for electrophotography includes a polylactic acid type biodegradable resin and a terpene-phenol copolymer. The molar concentration of one of the L-lactic acid units and D-lactic acid units in a lactic acid component of the polylactic acid type biodegradable resin is in the range between about 75 mol % and about 98 mol %.

Abstract: A crude lactide in a solid state or in an at least partially molten state is brought into contact with ethanol to form a slurry mixture, and then a solid form this slurry mixture is separated to yield a purified lactide having a high purity. A crude lactide is recrystallized from a non-denatured or denatured ethanol to obtain a lactide for a food additive. A lactide is applied widely to food additives. A coagulating agent for an animal and/or vegetable protein containing an optically active lactide as a main component, a food foaming agent containing a lactide as a main component, a food preservative containing a lactide as a main component and a pH regulating agent containing a lactide as a main component are provided.

Abstract: Toner used for electrophotography includes a polylactic acid type biodegradable resin and a terpene-phenol copolymer. The molar concentration of one of the L-lactic acid units and D-lactic acid units in a lactic acid component of the polylactic acid type biodegradable resin is in the range between about 75 mol % and about 98 mol %.