Plastic materials have become an integral part of the human lifestyle, resulting in 330 million tons of production. Additionally, plastic materials play a significant role in electronics, but their disposal and waste management are big problems that create environmental pollution. Therefore, the creation of bio-based polymeric materials like polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHAs) and their different blends or composites was considered a prospective alternative to synthetic polymers, was prompted by the elucidation of global and environmental consciousness of material sustainability. To meet the demands of numerous applications and extended product usage, PLA has been blended with other polymers or fillers, including fibers, micro, and nanoparticles. Interestingly, PHAs are natural biodegradable thermoplastic storage polymers derived from different microorganisms. These biopolymers have been exploited in numerous areas, such as medical, textile, packaging, cutlery, agriculture machinery, computer casing, vehicle interiors, etc. Here, in this tutorial review, the synthesis, commercial applications, and degradation methods of the PLA and PHA polymers and their composites are described straightforwardly and lucidly through citation of literature examples.
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)