A decade of innovation: Synthesis, properties and applications of PLA copolymers

Abstract

Over the past decade, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) copolymers have emerged as a versatile class of materials, offering enhanced properties and broader application potential compared to neat PLA. As the leading biobased plastic, PLA has high strength, good processability, and industrial compostability; however, its brittleness, limited thermal stability, and slow (bio)degradation under ambient conditions hinder its widespread adoption in advanced applications. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of PLA-based copolymers, excluding PLA stereoisomers and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), focusing on their synthesis, structure-property relationships, and potential uses. Copolymerization strategies—including ring-opening polymerization (ROP), polycondensation, and controlled radical polymerization—enable precise control over PLA's mechanical, thermal, and degradation characteristics. The incorporation of diverse comonomers, such as lactones, diacids, diols, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), and naturally derived polymers, has led to copolymers with tuneable properties suited for packaging, textiles, biomedical applications, and sustainable materials engineering. Advances in block, random, and graft copolymer architectures further expand PLA's functionality, enabling the design of high-performance biobased materials. By summarizing recent findings, this review highlights how tailored PLA copolymers are shaping the future of sustainable polymers.