Polylactic acid green nanocomposites for automotive applications

Abstract

In the past decade, a growing interest in the use of green nanocomposites in industrial applications has been observed because of many advantages such as biodegradability, renewability and their relatively low cost to substitute the conventional petroleum-based polymers. The nanocomposites based on polylactic acid (PLA) have the potential to be used in automotive applications due to good mechanical properties and processability. This chapter highlights the recent developments on PLA nanocomposites as potential materials for automotive applications. One of the common methods to improve the performances of PLA is the combination of PLA with various nanofillers including layered silicates and carbon derivatives such as graphene and carbon nanotubes. Mechanical and thermal properties are the focus of this chapter as the properties are important for automotive applications. Further research in this area is also being proposed.