Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is one of the most widely used biopolymers in the world, thanks to its
ease of production and the fact that it can be produced with tunable morphology and properties.
Because of its biodegradable structure and ease of the process, PLA has a wide range of applications, from three-dimensional printing to injection, from barrier coatings to fiber and film production. In addition to such advantages, PLA is a rigid polymer and has a low elongation at break and flexibility. In order to increase the flexibility of PLA, the preparation of PLA/flexible polymer blends and PLA plasticization processes are the most used methods recently. The plasticization process is generally accepted as a physical modification in order to change some properties including mechanical and thermal. Plasticizers are low molecular weight materials. The process basically starts with mixing polymer/polymer solution with the plasticizer that was followed by swelling and fusion of the polymer at elevated temperatures. At the end of the process glass transition temperature, melting temperature, and mechanical strength decrease however strain values at the break, bendability, and flexibility increase. Plasticization of PLA can be performed by melt mixing or solution mixing. In this study, the plasticization process of PLA and the plasticizers used at this stage are discussed.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Poly(Lactic Acid) (PLA), Plasticization, Flexible Films
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