| Abstract: | Biopolymers represent an interesting class of polymers whose potential is not yet been fully realised. However, more recently, biopolymers are gaining impetus in the market. Among the biopolymers, polylactic acid (PLA) is being used successfully and is widely accepted because it is produced from natural raw material and is degradable. Furthermore, it has comparable properties to standard thermoplastic polymers and can also be processed using similar process channels as conventional thermoplastic synthetic materials. Biopolymer applications are manifold and range from foils, fruit and vegetable packaging to hygiene and medical products. It can be expected that in future the application spectrum of biopolymers will increase even further. |
