Poly(lactic acid) Science and Technology Processing, Properties, Additives and Applications.

A. JIMÉNEZ; M. PELTZER; R. RUSECKAITE

The Royal Society of Chemistry

Año: 2015 p. 250

978-1-84973-879-8

This book is divided into six parts, where the most important issues in PLA science and technology are covered. The first part is devoted to PLA synthesis and polymerization, where different strategies for PLA synthesis from lactic acid will be described. The main physical properties of PLA will be also introduced, in particular those related to crystallization and stereo-complexation as major features in PLA structure. In the second part of this volume the use of innovative processing strategies, such as reactive extrusion and electrospinning, and the addition of plasticizers and elastomers to modify some of the key PLA properties, will be detailed. In the third section,two chapters will be devoted to innovation on nano-biocomposites based on PLA, where processing, properties and the main applications in packaging and biomedical sectors will be described. Different approaches and applications will be considered, in particular those with nanoclays and nanocelluloses to improve mechanical and barrier properties of PLA. These applications in key industrial sectors will be covered in Part 4, where the use of PLA in active packaging systems will be described. These new developments in food contact materials are very promising alternatives to the addition of synthetic additives to food formulations to increase food shelf-life. The use of bio-based and biodegradable polymers and natural additives will permit the design of fully environmentally friendly materials. Other important uses in the biomedical area, particularly but not only tissue engineering, will be also covered in Chapter 11. New approaches and different routes for degradation of PLA formulations in natural environments, particularly under hydrolysis, will be described in Part 5 as well as biodegradation in environmental conditions. Finally,industrial approaches for PLA formulations will be reviewed in Part 6, with a clear focus on the legislative issues regarding the use of bio-based polymers, particularly PLA, on key industrial sectors such as packaging,automotive, biomedical and others.