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Synthesis, properties, environmental degradation, processing, and applications of Polylactic Acid (PLA): an overview

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Abstract

Polylactic acid (PLA), a highly promising biodegradable biopolymer, has been extensively studied over the last two decades. The thermoplastic polyester PLA is bio-based, compostable, and eco-friendly. Its monomer, lactic acid, is fermented from renewable plant sources like starch and sugar. Therefore, PLA is regarded as a desirable substitute for conventional petroleum-based polymers. Because of its biocompatible and biodegradable properties, U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved PLA as a biomedical material. PLA has excellent mechanical, physical, structural, and thermal properties, making it suitable for various applications. However, PLA has limitations such as low impact toughness, hydrophobicity, and slow degradation rate at ambient temperatures. This can be improved by different modification methods, such as copolymerization, making composites or blends of PLA with other biodegradable polymers, or incorporating additives. This review presents information about the various methods of synthesis of PLA, its properties, and the environmental degradation of PLA. In addition, the different processing techniques of PLA are also reviewed. Lastly, the applications of PLA in sectors such as packaging, biomedical, agricultural, automotive, and textile are also discussed.

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Abbreviations

PLA:

Polylactic acid

FDA:

Food and Drug Administration

PHA:

Polyhydroxyalkanoate

PHB:

Polyhydroxybutyrate

PGA:

Polyglycolic acid

PCL:

Polycaprolactone

PBSA:

Polybutylene succinate-co-adipate

LA:

Lactic acid

PDLLA:

Poly-D, L-lactic acid

ROP:

Ring-opening polymerization

Sn(Oct)2 :

Stannous octoate

PHAs:

Polyhydroxyalkanoates

PEG:

Polyethylene glycol

THF:

Tetrahydrofuran

PLLA:

Poly-L-lactic acid

PDLA:

Poly-D- lactic acid

Tg :

Glass transition temperature

Tm :

Melting temperature

Mw :

Molecular Weight

PVC:

Polyvinyl chloride

PP:

Polypropylene

PS:

Polystyrene

DSC:

Differential Scanning Calorimetry

PET:

Polyethylene terephthalate

ISBM:

Injection stretch blow molding

OPS:

Oriented polystyrene

PDS:

Polydioxanone

PLGA:

Poly lactic-co-glycolic acid

DOX:

Doxorubicin

CNT:

Carbon nanotube

PBAT:

Polybutylene adipate terephthalate

ABS:

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene

PBT:

Polybutylene terephthalate

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    Navin Shekhar & Abhijit Mondal

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Shekhar, N., Mondal, A. Synthesis, properties, environmental degradation, processing, and applications of Polylactic Acid (PLA): an overview. Polym. Bull. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-024-05252-7

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