Toughening of Polylactic Acid Nanocomposites: A Short Review

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a thermoplastic derived from renewable resources, which degrades to nontoxic compounds in landfills. With current advances in the field of nanotechnology, development of layered silicate-based PLA nanocomposites successfully created a sustainable material with enhanced physical, thermal and chemical properties, holding the future as an alternative to petroleum-based materials. However, the toughness of PLA in its pristine state and nanocomposites is often insufficient. As such, there has been tremendous effort in developing ways to improve this with incorporation of plasticizers and impact modifiers. In this review, we summarize approaches in toughening of PLA and its nanocomposites.