Polylactic Acid (PLA)
1/4/2008
“Polylactic acid or polylactide (PLA) is a
biodegradable, thermoplastic,
aliphatic polyester derived from renewable resources, such as corn starch
(in the U.S.) or sugarcanes (rest of world). Although PLA has been known for
more than a century, it has only been of commercial interest in recent years, in
light of its biodegradability.”
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polylactic_acid
(1/4/2008)
The
skeletal formula of polylactic acid
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polylactic_acid
(1/4/2008)
Ring-opening polymerization of lactide to polylactide
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polylactic_acid
(1/4/2008)
Back to Biodegradable Materials
Warning: Sometimes the older links no longer work. Go to the US Patent Patent number search page, copy the Patent number into the search box and search. For the articles, use your browser to go the Journal site.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Notes
“Due to the chiral nature of lactic acid, several distinct
forms of polylactide exist: poly-L-lactide (PLLA) is the product
resulting from polymerization of L,L-lactide (also known as L-lactide). PLLA has
a crystallinity of around 37%, a glass transition temperature between 50-80 °C
and a melting temperature between 173-178 °C.”
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polylactic_acid
(1/4/2008)
*********************************************************
“Polylactic acid can be processed like most thermoplastics
into fiber (for example using conventional melt spinning processes) and film.
The melting temperature of PLLA can be increased 40-50 °C and its heat
deflection temperature can be increased from approximately 60°C to up to 190 °C
by physically blending the polymer with PDLA (poly-D-lactide). PDLA and PLLA
form a highly regular stereocomplex with increased crystallinity. The
temperature stability is maximised when a 50:50 blend is used, but even at lower
concentrations of 3-10% of PDLA, there is still a substantial improvement. In
the latter case, PDLA acts as a nucleating agent, thereby increasing the
crystallization rate. Biodegradation of PDLA is slower than for PLA due to the
higher crystallinity of PDLA. PDLA has the useful property of being optically
transparent.”
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polylactic_acid
(1/4/2008)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Review Articles
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
US Patents
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Journal Articles
Crystallization of PLA/Thermoplastic Starch Blends
(412-418)
International Polymer Processing #5 (2008)
Crystallization behavior and mechanical
properties of crosslinked plasticized poly(L-lactic
acid)
(p 1530-1539)
Journal of Applied Polymer Science 111 #3 (2009)
Abstract
10/24/2008
Solvent- and thermal-induced crystallization of
poly-L-lactic acid in supercritical CO2
medium
(p 291-300)
Journal of Applied Polymer Science 111 #1 (2009)
Abstract
10/10/2008
Fabrication of Poly-l-lactide Biomaterials with High Mechanical Properties
Using Fiber Oriented Pressing
(847 – 858)
Journal of Macromolecular Science, Part B - Physics 47 #5 (2008)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Back to Biodegradable Materials
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Roger D.
Corneliussen
Editor
Telephone: 610 883 0055
rcorneliussen@4spe.org
www.maropolymeronline.com
Copyright 2009 by Roger D. Corneliussen