Kata Galić

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BOOK REVIEW 117Poly(lactic acid) Science and Technology: Processing, Properties, Additives and ApplicationsEdited by Alfonso Jiménez, Mercedes A. Peltzerand Roxana A. RuseckaiteRSC Polymer Chemistry Series 12,Royal Society of Chemistry, UKYear of publication: 2015Hardcover, 353 pagesISBN: 978-1-84973-879-8Poly(lactic acid), PLA, is a material that is receiving considerable academic and commercial a en tion. As it is said in this book, this interest, according to the number of published papers, has increased exponentially over the past decade.This book consists of fourteen chapters, divided into six parts, wri en by various authors review ing the most important PLA issues.First part (Chapters 1-3) is entitled PLA Synthesis and Polymerization. Chapter 1 covers various polymerization mechanisms of PLA synthesis as well as a variety of studied catalysts. PLA synthesis (homopolymers and stereocopolymers) and its properties in biomedical applications are covered in Chapter 2, while one of the most important polymer properties, such as crystallisation and crystalli-sation kinetics of diﬀ erent PLA, is presented in Chapter 3.Processing and properties of PLA, as second part, are presented through four chapters. Chemi-cal aspects of reactive extrusion processing of PLA (Chapter 4) are emphasised through their advan-tages and limitations. Plasticization, as an important means to improve PLA processing and proper-ties, is covered in Chapters 4 and 5. Chapter 5 also contains a number of solubility parameters and their properties important in food packaging industry, such as the approved use as food contact ma-terials and their speciﬁ c migration limits. Developments and applications of the electrospinning of PLA and of PLA-based micro- and nanocomposites are reported in Chapter 6. Apart from plasticiz-ers, PLA modiﬁ cation obtained by blending with diﬀ erent thermoplastics and elastomers is covered in Chapter 7.PLA nanocomposites are also discussed through the third part (Chapters 8 and 9) of this book. A special focus is on the thermal, mechanical and barrier performances of the resulting nanocompos-ites.Fourth part, entitled PLA Main Applications, is presented in two chapters (Chapters 10 and 11). Chapter 10 starts with general introduction, not necessarily related to the PLA, on antimicrobial and antioxidant active packaging. Thus readers without specialized knowledge of this topic can beneﬁ t from this chapter. The aim of Chapter 11, again a er general introduction, is intended to summarise the current research of nanostructured biomaterials in tissue engineering applications. Part of this chapter (Blends) might have been be er coordinated with other parts of the book, such as with Chapter 7.Fi h part, covered in the single chapter, is entitled Degradation and Biodegradation of PLA. This chapter deals with the abiotic-hydrolytic degradation of PLA by varying the number of diﬀ er-ent parameters (e.g. medium conditions, PLA structure and properties).The sixth part (Industrial and Legislative Issues) is covered in two chapters. Chapter 13 summa-rizes (again) the most important PLA features and gives review of the most important current ap-plications  (food packaging, automotive, biomedical and other sectors) of PLA and PLA derivatives 118 BOOK REVIEWand nanocomposites. Chapter 14 covers legislation issues of food contact material taking into con-sideration biodegradation, compostability, and nanomaterials.The book ends with the not too detailed Subject index.Although they diﬀ er in scope and coverage, the chapters mostly ﬁ t together well. However, some chapters (and/or paragraphs within the chapters) would probably have been be er placed earlier in the book to provide more compact information under a proper title.Each chapter ends with extensive reference list, and the book contains 33 tables and 108 ﬁ gures.Most researchers in this ﬁ eld are likely to ﬁ nd something of interest here, either in an unfamiliar application of PLA or in the survey of recent publications that this book provides.Prof. Dr. Sc. Kata Galić

Recenzija knjige: Poly(lactic acid) Science and Technology: Processing, Properties, Additives and Applications

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