Advances in Polylactic Acid and PLA Composites
A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 10
Special Issue Editors
Interests: nanocellulose-based composites; biodegrdation; structural design and fabrication; green polymer composites; advanced material applications; sustainable packaging materials
Interests: nanocellulose composites; renewable biomaterials; biodegradable nanocomposites; surface modification and reinforcement; green polymer composites; advanced material applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue, titled “Advances in Polylactic Acid and PLA Composites”, showcases pioneering research driving the next generation of sustainable polymer science. As the global demand for eco-friendly materials accelerates, polylactic acid (PLA) has emerged as a leading candidate to replace petroleum-based plastics, offering biodegradability, renewability, and versatility. This Issue will bring together state-of-the-art studies on the design, synthesis, and functionalization of PLA and its composites, focusing on breakthroughs that significantly enhance its mechanical strength, thermal stability, processability, and barrier performance. Innovative approaches such as nanomaterial reinforcement, fiber hybridization, copolymer engineering, and reactive compatibilization are explored to push the performance boundaries of PLA-based systems. In addition, this Issue will delve into the tailored degradation mechanisms—hydrolytic, enzymatic, and microbial—aimed at achieving precise control for biomedical, packaging, and environmental applications. By bridging green chemistry, materials innovation, and industrial scalability, this Special Issue collection seeks to inspire transformative research that accelerates the integration of PLA composites into high-performance, circular, and sustainable material platforms worldwide.
Dr. Somia Yassin Hussain Abdalkarim
Prof. Dr. Houyong Yu
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- polylactic acid
- biodegradable polymers
- composites
- nanoreinforcement
- mechanical and thermal enhancement
- copolymerization and blending
- controlled degradation mechanisms
- green chemistry and circular economy
- biomedical and packaging applications
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