STUDY OF THE SYNTHESIS OF POLY(LACTIC ACID)

Poly(lactic acid) (polylactide, PLA) is a biocompatible and bioresorbable polymer, thus it is widely used in the medical area, and is paid much attention to. There are two main methods to synthesis PLA, condensation polymerization of lactic acid and ring-opening polymerization of lactide. In the paper, the process of the new research of the synthesis PLA was reviewed, and the effect of reaction condition on the PLA molecular weight and the effect of different catalyst on ring opening polymerization of lactide were discussed. Beside, the PLA synthesis method of reactive extrusion was introduced, which is a high efficiency method. Finally, the foreground of PLA synthesis was prospected.