The production costs of different bioplastics have reduced considerably compared to traditional plastics in recent years. This, along with the demand from demanding markets, has led to the development of biodegradable plastics from PLA (polylactic acid), thermoplastic starches, PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) and biodegradable polyesters.
The incorporation of additives and reinforcements to biomaterials allows obtaining products with different mechanical, thermal and optical properties according to the requirements of the final application. The control of the degradability of bioplastics is also an ongoing work by adapting it to the expected lifetime of the final product.
Contact:
Álvaro Maldonado, Head of the Department of Biomaterials
a.maldonado@udt.cl / +56 (0)41 266 1814