title: Recent advances in high performance poly(lactide): from "green" plasticization to super-tough materials via (reactive) compounding.
abstract: Due to its origin from renewable resources, its biodegradability, and recently, its industrial implementation at low costs, poly(lactide) (PLA) is considered as one of the most promising ecological, bio-sourced and biodegradable plastic materials to potentially and increasingly replace traditional petroleum derived polymers in many commodity and engineering applications. Beside its relatively high rigidity [high tensile strength and modulus compared with many common thermoplastics such as poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), high impact poly(styrene) (HIPS) and poly(propylene) (PP)], PLA suffers from an inherent brittleness, which can limit its applications especially where mechanical toughness such as plastic deformation at high impact rates or elongation is required. Therefore, the curve plotting stiffness vs. impact resistance and ductility must be shifted to higher values for PLA-based materials, while being preferably fully bio-based and biodegradable upon the application. This review aims to establish a state of the art focused on the recent progresses and preferably economically viable strategies developed in the literature for significantly improve the mechanical performances of PLA. A particular attention is given to plasticization as well as to impact resistance modification of PLA in the case of (reactive) blending PLA-based systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Materials and Structures, Public Research Center Henri Tudor Hautcharage, Luxembourg ; Laboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, UMONS Research Institute for Materials Science and Engineering, Center for Innovation and Research in Materials and Polymers, University of Mons Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Georgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kfoury
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, UMONS Research Institute for Materials Science and Engineering, Center for Innovation and Research in Materials and Polymers, University of Mons Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Raquez
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Materials and Structures, Public Research Center Henri Tudor Hautcharage, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hassouna
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, UMONS Research Institute for Materials Science and Engineering, Center for Innovation and Research in Materials and Polymers, University of Mons Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jérémy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Odent
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Materials and Structures, Public Research Center Henri Tudor Hautcharage, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Toniazzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Materials and Structures, Public Research Center Henri Tudor Hautcharage, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ruch
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, UMONS Research Institute for Materials Science and Engineering, Center for Innovation and Research in Materials and Polymers, University of Mons Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dubois
keywords: (reactive) compounding; impact resistance; mechanical properties; poly(lactide); toughening