Poly(lactic acid) (eBook)

Rafael Auras is an Assistant Professor in the School of Packaging at Michigan State University. He has authored or coauthored more than sixty publications. His research areas include mass transfer in polymers, biodegradable and compostable polymers, life cycle assessment, packaging waste, and sustainable packaging systems. Loong-Tak Lim is an Associate Professor in the Department of Food Science at the University of Guelph. Dr. Lim is author and coauthor of more than twenty journal articles, a holder of three patents, and has given twenty-one conference presentations. Susan Selke is Professor and Associate Director in the School of Packaging at Michigan State University. Her research activities and interests include life-cycle analysis, biodegradable and biobased plastics, plastics composites, active packaging, microcellular foaming of plastics, plastics recycling, and related areas. She has authored or coauthored more than 170 publications, including nine books. Hideto Tsuji is a Professor in the Department of Ecological Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering at Toyohashi University of Technology. He has authored or coauthored more than a hundred academic papers, has edited three books, and holds twelve patents.

"In summary, I found this book to be a valuable, one-source reference to the chemistry of polylactides. It should serve as an excellent compilation for researchers and prospective researchers in this growing field of polymer chemistry. I recommend this book to all who are interested in these biodegradable polymers." (Journal of the American Chemical Society, 15 April 2011)