Polylactic Acid: PLA Biopolymer Technology and Applications

✍ Scribed by Lee Tin Sin, A. R. Rahmat, W. A. W. A. Rahman

• Publisher: William Andrew
• Year: 2012
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 350
• Series: Plastics Design Library
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Polylactic Acid (PLA) is the first viable thermoplastic that can be produced from a plant-based feedstock such as corn or sugar cane, and yet be processed by the conventional melt processing technologies. At the same time, Polylactic Acid is produced at the largest industrial scale of all biodegradable polymers. It is being used in biomedical applications, for bottle production and in compostable food packaging. It is also being evaluated as a material for tissue engineering. Mass production has tremendously reduced the cost of PLA production, making it an economically viable choice for fabrication of domestic containers, plastic bags, and fibers. Commercial-scale plants today produce hundreds of thousand tons of PLA per year.

This book provides a practical guide for the engineers and scientists involved in working with PLA and developing the many new products that are emerging for this important biopolymer. The current market situation for PLA and biodegradable polymers is described as well as applications across a range of market sectors, and the mechanical, chemical, thermal, rheology, and degradation properties of PLA.

• An essential reference for engineers, scientists and product designers considering switching to a sustainable plastic.
• Covers the properties, synthesis and polymerization of PLA, and processing techniques involved in fabricating parts from this polymer.

✦ Table of Contents

Front Cover......Page 1
Polylactic Acid......Page 4
Copyright Page......Page 5
Contents......Page 6
1.1 Background to Biodegradable Polymers......Page 10
1.2 Market Potential of Biodegradable Polymers and PLA......Page 22
1.3.1 PLA for Domestic Applications......Page 42
1.3.2 PLA and Copolymers for Biomedical Applications......Page 52
1.4 Environmental Profile of PLA......Page 66
1.5 Ecoprofile of PLA in Mass Production......Page 67
1.6 Environmental Impact of PLA at the Post-Consumer Stage......Page 72
References......Page 76
2.1 Introduction......Page 80
2.2 Lactic Acid Production......Page 81
2.2.1 Laboratory Scale Production of Lactic Acid......Page 94
2.3 Lactide and Poly(lactic Acid) Production......Page 95
2.3.1 Review of Lactide Production Technology......Page 97
2.3.2 Polymerization and Copolymerization of Lactide......Page 103
2.3.3 Lactide Copolymer......Page 106
2.3.4 Quality Control......Page 108
2.3.5 Quantification of Residual Lactide in PLA (NatureWorks LLC, 2010b)......Page 109
2.3.5.1 Calculations......Page 111
2.3.6 Quantification of D-Lactic Acid Content in PLA (NatureWork LLC, 2010a)......Page 112
2.3.6.1 Calculations......Page 113
References......Page 114
3.1 Introduction......Page 118
3.2 Thermal Transition and Crystallization of PLA......Page 121
3.3 Thermal Decomposition......Page 132
3.4 Heat Capacity, Thermal Conductivity and Pressure–Volume–Temperature of PLA......Page 140
3.5 Conclusion......Page 147
References......Page 148
4.1 Introduction......Page 152
4.2 Stereochemistry of Poly(lactic Acid)......Page 155
4.3.1 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy......Page 163
4.3.2 Infrared Spectroscopy......Page 166
4.4 Solubility and Barrier Properties of PLA......Page 171
4.4.1 Solubility of Polylactic Acid......Page 172
4.4.2 Permeability of Polylactic Acid......Page 173
References......Page 181
5.1 Introduction......Page 186
5.2 Effect of Crystallinity and Molecular Weight on Mechanical Properties of PLA......Page 188
5.3 Effect of Modifier/Plasticizer on PLA......Page 191
5.4 Polymer Blends of PLA......Page 200
5.4.1 Poly(lactic Acid) and Polycaprolactone Blend......Page 201
5.4.2 Blends of Polylactide with Degradable or Partially Degradable Polymers......Page 207
5.4.3 Blends of Polylactide and Polyhydroxyalkanoates......Page 211
5.4.4 PLA Blends with Nondegradable Polymers......Page 216
References......Page 224
6.1 Introduction......Page 230
6.2 Rheological Properties of Poly(lactic Acid)......Page 231
6.3 Effects of Molecular Weight......Page 235
6.4 Effects of Branching......Page 239
6.5 Extensional Viscosity......Page 241
6.7 Rheological Properties of Polymer Blends......Page 242
6.7.1 PLA/PBAT Blend......Page 244
6.7.2 Blend with Layered Silicate Nanocomposites......Page 246
6.7.3 PLA/Polystyrene Blend......Page 248
References......Page 252
7.1 Introduction......Page 256
7.2 Factors Affecting PLA Degradation......Page 257
7.3 Hydrolytic and Enzymatic Degradation of PLA......Page 264
7.4 Environmental Degradation of PLA......Page 274
7.5 Thermal Degradation of PLA......Page 287
7.6 Flame Resistance of PLA......Page 297
References......Page 304
8.1 Introduction......Page 310
8.2 Poly(lactic Acid) for Domestic Applications......Page 311
8.5 Conclusion......Page 326
References......Page 335
Index......Page 338