Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Mechanical properties of fibre/ filler based poly(Lactic Acid) (Pla) composites : A brief review

This review examines the mechanical properties of polylactic acid (PLA)-based composites reinforced with natural fibers and fillers, presenting PLA as a biodegradable alternative to conventional plastics in applications ranging from agriculture to biomedical devices. Improving the strength and durability of bio-based plastics is essential for replacing petroleum-based materials that generate persistent microplastic pollution.

2021 Acta Innovations 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Biocomposites and Poly(lactic acid) in Active Packaging: A Review of Current Research and Future Directions

This review examines how bio-based and biodegradable materials, especially polylactic acid (PLA), are being developed as sustainable alternatives for food packaging. While these materials aim to reduce petroleum-based plastic pollution, the review notes that biodegradable plastics can still break down into microplastics during their degradation process. Understanding the full lifecycle of these alternative materials is important for determining whether they truly reduce microplastic contamination.

2024 Polymers 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Crystallization behaviors of chain extended poly (lactic acid) modified with ST‐NAB3 and its improvement for mechanical and thermal properties

Researchers modified poly(lactic acid) — a biodegradable plastic alternative to petroleum-based polymers — to improve its poor crystallization, mechanical strength, and heat resistance by adding a chain extender and nucleating agent. The resulting material performs better under real-world conditions, bringing biodegradable plastics closer to viably replacing conventional plastics that contribute to microplastic pollution.

2024 Journal of Applied Polymer Science 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Development of a composite based on polylactic acid and lignocellulosic waste: new packaging for meat food storage

Researchers developed food packaging from polylactic acid (a biodegradable bioplastic) combined with plant-derived lignin and incorporated antimicrobial agents to extend meat shelf life. Replacing conventional plastic food packaging with biodegradable alternatives could reduce the microplastics shed from packaging into food and the environment.

2023 Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) Nanocomposites: Effect of Inorganic Nanoparticles Reinforcement on Its Performance and Food Packaging Applications

This review summarized approaches to reinforcing polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastic with inorganic nanoparticles — including clay, silica, and metal oxides — to improve its mechanical strength, barrier properties, and thermal stability for food packaging applications while retaining biodegradability.

2021 Molecules 125 citations
Article Tier 2

High-performance biodegradable poly(lactic acid) composites with xylan and lignin copolymer

Researchers developed high-performance biodegradable poly(lactic acid) composites by incorporating xylan and lignin derived from lignocellulosic biomass, improving PLA mechanical properties and addressing its brittleness limitations while maintaining biodegradability as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics.

2025 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Article Tier 2

The Potential of Bio-Based Polylactic Acid (PLA) as an Alternative in Reusable Food Containers: A Review

This review evaluates polylactic acid as a potential sustainable alternative to polypropylene in reusable food containers, examining its mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties. Researchers found that while PLA has limitations including brittleness and heat sensitivity, these can be improved through blending with other biopolymers. The study compares PLA-based composites against conventional polypropylene and considers end-of-life options and commercial costs of making the switch.

2023 Sustainability 47 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioplastics: Environment-friendly materials and their production technologies

This review analyzes recent developments in bioplastics as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional plastics, examining raw material sources, production technologies, and biodegradation assessment methods, with special emphasis on polylactic acid (PLA) as the most widely used biodegradable polymer.

2023 Agro Productividad 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Bio-Based Materials for Packaging

This review evaluates bio-based materials as sustainable alternatives for plastic packaging, examining the environmental performance, mechanical properties, and commercial viability of biopolymers in addressing the global plastic pollution crisis.

2022 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of the Incorporation of Nano-Sized Cellulose Formate on the End Quality of Polylactic Acid Composite Film

Researchers found that incorporating nano-sized cellulose formate fillers, including cellulose nanofibrils and nanocrystals, into polylactic acid films significantly improved mechanical strength and barrier properties while maintaining the biodegradable character of the composite, offering a path toward higher-performance sustainable packaging.

2021 Nanomaterials 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Crystallization behaviors of chain extended poly (lactic acid) modified with ST-NAB3 and its improved mechanical and thermal properties

Researchers modified poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with a styrene-acrylonitrile-glycidyl methacrylate chain extender (SAG) and an octamethylenedicarboxylic dibenzoylhydrazide nucleating agent (ST-NAB3) to improve its crystallization, mechanical properties, and thermal resistance as a biodegradable alternative to petroleum-based single-use plastics. The modifications significantly enhanced PLA crystallinity and mechanical performance, supporting its use in disposable packaging and tableware applications.

2024 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

Environmental Impact of Food Packaging Materials: A Review of Contemporary Development from Conventional Plastics to Polylactic Acid Based Materials

This review examined the environmental impacts of conventional food packaging plastics and assessed biopolymer alternatives such as PLA, discussing production from renewable feedstocks, material performance properties, and the potential for bioplastics to reduce fossil plastic waste in the packaging sector.

2020 Materials 627 citations
Article Tier 2

Poly(ethylene succinate-co-lactic acid) as a Multifunctional Additive for Modulating the Miscibility, Crystallization, and Mechanical Properties of Poly(lactic acid)

Researchers synthesized a series of poly(ethylene succinate-co-lactic acid) copolymers with varying lactic acid content and evaluated them as compatibilizers to modulate the miscibility and mechanical performance of poly(lactic acid) blends. The copolymers acted as multifunctional additives that improved blend compatibility and allowed tuning of material properties.

2024 ACS Omega 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microstructure and performance evolution of poly (l-lactic acid) during physical aging: Determinable role of molding method on β-relaxation

Researchers investigated how the manufacturing method of poly(L-lactic acid) — a biodegradable plastic relevant to microplastic pollution reduction — affects its mechanical aging behavior, finding that quenching versus cold-pressing creates different molecular network structures that determine how quickly the material becomes brittle over time.

2025 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Strengthening effect of pea dietary fiber on mechanical properties and degradability of polylactic acid

Researchers incorporated pea dietary fiber into polylactic acid (PLA) plastic to improve its mechanical strength and degradability. Strengthening biodegradable plastics without adding conventional plastic additives is important for developing truly compostable alternatives that don't generate persistent microplastic fragments.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Networks with Dynamic Covalent Bonds: Synthesis and Characterization

Researchers synthesized a biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) network with dynamic chemical bonds that degrade under environmental conditions, making it a candidate to replace microplastic-generating polyolefins in packaging and agriculture. The study characterizes its thermal and mechanical properties for practical applications.

2023 ACS Applied Polymer Materials 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic Alternatives: Biodegradable Solutions and Their Real-World Impact

This review examines biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastics, evaluating biopolymers such as polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, and starch-based composites for their practical performance, cost-efficiency, and real-world environmental impact as substitutes for petroleum-based plastic packaging.

2025 International Journal of Integrated Research and Practice
Article Tier 2

Effect of Matrix Crystallization on Vickers Hardness of Cellulose Fiber / Poly(lactic acid) Composites

This study investigated how crystallization processes affect the hardness of composites made from cellulose nanofibers and polylactic acid, a biodegradable plastic, with implications for replacing conventional fossil-fuel-based plastics.

2023 Kikai Zairyou, Zairyou Kakou Gijutsu Kouenkai kouen rombunshuu/Kikai Zairyo, Zairyo Kako Gijutsu Koenkai koen ronbunshu
Article Tier 2

Bilayer Films of Poly(lactic acid) and Cottonseed Protein for Packaging Applications

Researchers produced bilayer films combining polylactic acid with cottonseed protein isolate for food packaging applications and found that the bilayer design improved mechanical and barrier properties compared to single-layer PLA films while maintaining biodegradability.

2023 Polymers 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Chemical-Physical Characterization of Bio-Based Biodegradable Plastics in View of Identifying Suitable Recycling/Recovery Strategies and Numerical Modeling of PLA Pyrolysis

Researchers characterized several bio-based and biodegradable polymer alternatives to conventional plastics using chemical-physical methods, assessing their suitability for industrial composting and identifying challenges in managing these bioplastics in the existing waste stream.

2023 Waste and Biomass Valorization 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of different natural plasticizers on Ethyl Cellulose Oleogel bioplastic

Researchers investigated the effect of various natural plasticizers on the mechanical and physical properties of ethyl cellulose oleogel bioplastics, aiming to improve plasticity and processability as a biodegradable, biocompatible alternative to fossil-based packaging plastics.

2025
Article Tier 2

Improvement in the toughness and compatibility of poly(lactic acid)/starch acetoacetate through reactive melt-kneading with amine-modified silicone

Not relevant to microplastics — this paper improves the toughness and compatibility of polylactic acid/starch blends using amine-modified silicone as a compatibilizer, aiming to expand biodegradable plastic use in packaging and single-use products.

2024 Polymer Journal 2 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Cellulose-Reinforced Polylactic Acid Composites for Three-Dimensional Printing Using Polyethylene Glycol as an Additive: A Comprehensive Review

This comprehensive review examined how cellulose-reinforced polylactic acid composites with polyethylene glycol additives can be used for 3D printing as biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. The research found that these bio-based materials show promise for reducing plastic waste, though challenges remain in matching the mechanical properties of conventional plastics.

2023 Polymers 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent Advances in the Investigation of Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) Nanocomposites: Incorporation of Various Nanofillers and their Properties and Applications

This review covers recent advances in poly(lactic acid) or PLA, a compostable bioplastic that could replace fossil-fuel-based plastics. Researchers examined how adding various nanofillers can overcome PLA's limitations, such as low heat resistance and slow crystallization, making it suitable for a wider range of applications. The findings suggest that PLA nanocomposites represent a viable path toward reducing reliance on conventional plastics across multiple industries.

2023 Polymers 210 citations