Reactive extrusion as a tool for high performance biomass-derived polymers

Reactive extrusion has emerged as a potent tool for improving material properties of common resins. The Cochran research group has used the Haake system to explore impact modification of polyesters such as PLA using biomass additives. The use of these additives and this technique allows for the transformation of PLA, a very brittle material, into something with material properties akin to ABS (high impact strength, tensile strength, and flexibility).