ABSTRACT
Poly(Lactic Acid)The development of bio-based polymers is one strategic step towards achieving a sustainable social system. A typical bio-based polymer is poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA), which through a combination of biological fermentation and chemical reaction can be synthesized from naturally abundant biomasses such as starch or cellulose [6]. PLLA shows good physical properties such as crystallinity, thermoplasticity, transparency, and a high melting point (Tm) of around 170°C [7]. It also has the excellent quality of being easily reproduced from the depolymerization product: l,l-lactide [8]. Hence, the likelihood that PLLA will become the plastic material of choice for sustainable systems has been attracting much interest from researchers.
