Research progress in the heat resistance, toughening and filling modification of PLA

Due to its high strength, high modulus, excellent clarity, good biodegradability and biocompatibility, poly(lactic acid) (PLA), a bio-based thermoplastic polyester, has evolved into a competitive commodity material with potential to replace conventional petrochemical-based polymers. However, the wide applications of PLA have been hampered by its native drawbacks, such as low heat distortion temperature (HDT), inherent brittleness and relatively high cost. In recent years, researchers have devoted to breaking above-mentioned bottleneck and attempted to extend the application of PLA. This review will summarize recent work about the modification of PLA, especially focusing on enhancing HDT, toughening and reducing cost.