When did the successful synthesis of high-molecular-weight PLA suitable for mass commercial applications primarily occur?
Answer
The 1980s and 1990s
While the chemistry was older, the development of the high-molecular-weight PLA suitable for mass production, launching the modern bioplastics industry, happened primarily in the 1980s and 1990s.
Related Questions
What was the name of the very first man-made plastic invented by Alexander Parkes in the 1850s?What materials, produced naturally by bacteria as energy storage reserves, are considered perhaps the earliest true biodegradable plastics?Which semi-synthetic material, invented around 1908 by Jacques E. Brandenberger, is a classic example of measurable biodegradability?If a plastic is made from biomass like corn starch but its degradation is not guaranteed, what property does it possess?The basic chemistry for making Polylactic Acid (PLA) and polymerizing it can be traced back to what historical research period?When did the successful synthesis of high-molecular-weight PLA suitable for mass commercial applications primarily occur?What common structural component of plant cell walls was modified in early 20th-century materials explored for their ability to break down?Which two standards dictate the speed and completeness of breakdown under managed conditions, providing more reliable data than a general 'biodegradable' claim?What specific factors are usually required for a material to be classified as truly biodegradable, which are often missing in the open environment?According to the text, what factor was the true accelerator for making historical discoveries of degradable chemistry commercially relevant as 'biodegradable plastic'?