Journal
ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS
Volume 107, Issue -, Pages 333-366Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2016.03.010
Keywords
Polylactic acid; Lactide; Polymer processing; Bio-based; Compostable; Degradation; Hydrolysis; Life cycle assessment
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Funding
- Mexican National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT)
- Mexican Secretariat of Public Education (SEP)
- Government of Mexico
- USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
- Michigan AgBioResearch, Hatch project
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Global awareness of material sustainability has increased the demand for bio-based polymers like poly(lactic acid) (PLA), which are seen as a desirable alternative to fossil-based polymers because they have less environmental impact. PLA is an aliphatic polyester, primarily produced by industrial polycondensation of lactic acid and/or ring-opening polymerization of lactide. Melt processing is the main technique used for mass production of PLA products for the medical, textile, plasticulture, and packaging industries. To fulfill additional desirable product properties and extend product use, PLA has been blended with other resins or compounded with different fillers such as fibers, and micro- and nanoparticles. This paper presents a review of the current status of PLA mass production, processing techniques and current applications, and also covers the methods to tailor PLA properties, the main PLA degradation reactions, PLA products' end-of-life scenarios and the environmental footprint of this unique polymer. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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