Biodegradable Polylactic Acid and Its Composites: Characteristics, Processing, and Sustainable Applications in Sports

Abstract

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable polyester polymer that is produced from renewable resources, such as corn or other carbohydrate sources. However, its poor toughness limits its commercialization. PLA composites can meet the growing performance needs of various fields, but limited research has focused on their sustainable applications in sports. This paper reviews the latest research on PLA and its composites by describing the characteristics, production, degradation process, and the latest modification methods of PLA. Then, it discusses the inherent advantages of PLA composites and expounds on different biodegradable materials and their relationship with the properties of PLA composites. Finally, the importance and application prospects of PLA composites in the field of sports are emphasized. Although PLA composites mixed with natural biomass materials have not been mass produced, they are expected to be sustainable materials used in various industries because of their simple process, nontoxicity, biodegradability, and low cost.

Tailoring Pectin-PLA Bilayer Film for Optimal Properties as a Food Pouch Material

“…PLA is synthesized from lactic acid derived from renewable resources such as corn or other carbohydrate sources [ 9 ]. Additionally, PLA has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its application in food-contact material [ 10 ].…”

Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/Polylactic Acid/Tetrapod-Zinc Oxide Whisker Composite Films with Antibacterial Properties

“…Environmental problems, such as "White pollution" [3], and "Microplastics" [4] caused by the non-biodegradable material have urged researchers to find biodegradable alternatives. Some of the biodegradable polymer materials, such as polylactic acid (PLA) [5], poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) [6], and polymethyl ethylene carbonate [7], which can be produced by renewable sources, have become a substitute for non-biodegradable polymer ingredients.…”

“…As a commonly used biodegradable polymer, PLA can be prepared from sugar and corn and can be used for biodegradable packaging and medical application. However, PLA has some drawbacks, such as low mechanical strength and thermal stability which could limit its properties [ 5 ]. One of the most effective methods to enhance the properties of the PLA is to blend with other flexible polymer materials such as polycaprolactone [ 8 ], poly(butylene succinate-co-terephthalate) [ 9 ], and PBAT [ 10 ].…”

Valorization of Agro-Wastes as Fillers in PLA-Based Biocomposites for Increasing Sustainability in Fused Deposition Modeling Additive Manufacturing

“…While biopolymers are often quite expansive with respect to traditional materials, their cost and potentially also their properties could be significantly improved upon employment of biobased fillers, and more precisely, agricultural wastes, in order to keep the carbon footprint limited, bringing several advantages, such as full circularity of resources, biodegradability, low specific gravity, and reduction of whole material cost [ 2 ]. In this regard, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) appears as an optimal candidate as a biocomposite matrix [ 4 ], owing to its large availability in comparison with other biobased thermoplastics, with 20.7% of the global production capacity in 2022 by material type [ 5 ], its full biodegradability, and the wide range of applications that could benefit from lowering of the material’s cost. Additionally, PLA is largely adopted in additive manufacturing (AM), in particular in fused deposition modeling (FDM), where it actually represents a benchmark for household applications [ 6 ].…”