9781847355843_Front Cover.pdf -- 9781847355843_Content.pdf -- Update on Polylactide Based Materials -- Contents -- Preface -- 1 Introduction -- 1.1 Polylactide -- 1.2 Polymerisation -- 1.3 Applications -- 1.4 Polylactide and the Environment -- References -- 2 Developments in the Polymerisationof Polylactide-based Materials -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.1.1 Polycondensation -- 2.1.2 Ring-opening Polymerisation -- 2.2 Polymerisation in Supercritical Fluids -- 2.3 Biosynthesis of Polylactide -- 2.3.1 Enzymes, Homogeneous Systems -- 2.3.1.1 Enzyme-catalysed Ring-opening Polymerisation in Heterogeneous Systems -- 2.3.2 Lactide-polymerising Enzyme -- 2.3.3 Extrusion -- References -- 3 Polylactide Copolymers -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Macromolecular Design in Lactide Copolymerisation -- 3.2.1 Lactide Copolymers in Nanoparticles -- 3.2.2 Electroactive Lactide Copolymers -- 3.2.1.1 Poly(ethylene glycol) and Lactide-based Copolymers as Nanoparticles -- 3.2.1.2 Stimuli-responsive Nanoparticles -- 3.3 Combination of Ring-opening Polymerisation of Lactide and Nitroxide-mediated Polymerisation -- 3.3.1 Linear Block Copolymers -- 3.3.2 Graft Copolymers -- 3.4 Combination of Ring-Opening Polymerisation of Lactide and Reversible Addition Fragmentation Chain Transfer -- 3.4.1 Linear Block Copolymers -- 3.4.2 Graft Copolymers -- 3.4.3 Amphiphilic Copolymers -- 3.4.4 Thermosensitive Copolymers -- 3.5 Combination of Ring-Opening Polymerisation of Lactide and Atom Transfer Radical Polymerisation -- 3.5.1 Block Copolymers -- 3.5.2 Graft Copolymers -- 3.5.3 Dendrimer-like Copolymers -- 3.5.4 Amphiphilic Block Copolymers -- 3.5.5 Carbohydrates as Initiators for the Ring-opening Polymerisation of Lactide -- 3.6 Combinations -- References -- 3.5.1.1 Lactide First Approach -- 3.5.1.2 Macroinitiators -- 3.5.4.1 Lactide-first Approach -- 3.5.4.2 Macroinitiators.

4 Polylactide Blends -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Blends with other Polyesters -- 4.2.1 Polycaprolactone -- 4.2.2 Poly(hydroxyalkanoates) -- 4.2.3 Poly(butylene succinate), Poly(butylene adipate) and Related Polymers -- 4.2.4 Aliphatic-aromatic Polyesters -- 4.3 Polylactide/Starch Blends -- 4.3.1 Grafting Approaches for Improving the Compatibility -- 4.3.2 Ternary Blends and Plasticisation -- 4.3.3 Biodegradation -- 4.4 Other Biodegradable Blends -- 4.4.1 Poly(ethylene glycol) and Poly(propylene glycol) -- 4.4.2 Poly(vinyl alcohol) -- 4.4.3 Chitosan Blends -- 4.4.4 Soy Protein Blends -- 4.4.5 Soya Bean Oil Blends -- 4.4.6 Other Polylactide Blends -- 4.5 Blends of Polylactide with Inert Polymers -- 4.5.1 Polyethylene and Polypropylene -- 4.5.2 Polystyrene -- 4.5.3 Poly(methyl methacrylate) -- 4.5.4 Elastomers and Rubbers -- 4.5.5 Poly(vinyl phenol) -- References -- 4.2.1.1 Hydrolysis and Biodegradation of Polycaprolactone Blends -- 5 Polylactide Stereocomplexes -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Stereocomplex Formation -- 5.2.1 Stereocomplexation in Solution -- 5.2.2 Stereocomplexation from the Melt -- 5.2.3 Stereocomplexation under other Conditions -- 5.3 Poly(l-lactide)/Poly(d-lactide) Blends -- 5.4 Block Copolymers -- 5.5 Micelles, Hydrogels and Crosslinked Materials -- 5.6 Characterisation and Properties -- 5.7 Hydrolytic and Thermal Degradation -- 5.8 Applications -- References -- 6 Polylactide Nanocomposites -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Nanoclay Composites -- 6.2.1 Processing and Preparation -- 6.2.2 Properties and Characteristics -- 6.2.3 Biotic and Hydrolytic Degradation -- 6.3 Metal Oxide and Silver Nanocomposites -- 6.3.1 Titanium Dioxide -- 6.3.2 Silicon Dioxide -- 6.3.3 Silver -- 6.4 Carbon Nanotubes -- 6.4.1 The Effect of Surface Modification -- 6.4.2 Degradation -- 6.5 Other Nanofillers -- References -- 7 Polylactide Biocomposites.

7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 Wood Composites -- 7.2.1 Physicomechanical and Thermal Properties -- 7.2.2 Effect of Moisture Uptake and Hygroexpansion -- 7.2.3 Biodegradation -- 7.3 Composites with Microcrystalline Cellulose -- 7.4 Flax Fibre Composites -- 7.5 Jute Fibre Composites -- 7.6 Kenaf and Hemp Fibre Composites -- 7.7 Other Green Polylactide Composites -- 7.8 Recycling -- 7.9 Comparison of Mechanical Properties for Different Polylactide Biocomposites -- References -- 8 Future Perspectives -- Abbreviations -- Index -- 9781847355843_Back Cover.pdf.