Читать книгу High-Performance Materials from Bio-based Feedstocks - Группа авторов - Страница 20

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a bio‐based thermoplastic composed of lactic acid monomers that are derived from renewable resources such as corn, sugarcane, or cassava. Due to its outstanding properties (biocompatible, biodegradable, and good mechanical strength), PLA and poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic) acid (PLGA) in biomedical applications such as anti‐HIV drug delivery, in the form of drug‐loaded nanoparticle formulations, topical products, and long‐acting inserts (Chapter 8). The good mechanical strength, optical transparency, biodegradability, and processability make PLA attractive for food‐packaging applications. A limitation of PLA is its poor impact force, which can be improved by addition of toughening agents [13]. Further modification of PLA can also improve properties such as antibacterial, antifogging, and gas barrier properties (Chapter 15).

Another interesting group of biomolecules is vegetable oils (VOs), which are composed of triglycerides from fatty acids. The VOs can be modified and used as monomers for the synthesis of alkyd resins and polyurethanes that find applications as coating materials in fertilizers (Chapter 16).