Poly(Lactic) Acid Modified Films for Packaging Applications

This chapter focuses on an introduction to the basics of biopolymers, classification of biopolymers based on their source of origin. It discusses the importance of poly(lactic) acid (PLA) in view of industrial packaging applications, properties and drawbacks of PLA, different routes for fabrication of PLA composites. In detail, the chapter provides information about different types of PLA composite films like PLA/layered silicate, PLA/carbonaceous materials, PLA/bio‐filler, and PLA/mesoporous silica envisaged by several research groups, and the role of such reinforcements on the food packaging properties are analyzed. The PLA/organically modified Cloisite 30B composites were fabricated using the solution casting method. It was found that the PLA composite films were transparent after incorporation of organically modified Cloisite 30B in the PLA matrix. The influence of hexadecylamine modified montmorillonite and mica on the thermal and mechanical properties of PLA.