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Biobased and Biodegradable Polymer Blends and Composites II

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A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Circular and Green Polymer Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2024 | Viewed by 4348

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Laura Aliotta

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Guest Editor

Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Interests: materials science; natural fibers; natural fillers; composites; polymers; biopolymers; bioplastics; biocomposites; polymer processing; mechanical properties; thermal properties; analytical modelling
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Dr. Vito Gigante

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Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, Università di Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino 1, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Interests: processing; rheology; mechanical properties; fracture mechanics and thermal behavior of polymers and biocomposites
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Prof. Dr. Andrea Lazzeri

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Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Interests: materials Science; materials engineering; composites; nanomaterials; polymers; biopolymers; bioplastics; nanobiocomposites; polymer processing; mechanical properties; viscoelasticity; modelling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the last few years, interest in sustainability has become even more intense than before. The adoption of circular economy approaches has led to the minimization and valorization of waste as well as to the substitution of fossil-based materials with biobased ones. New sustainable and eco-efficient products are entering the market, pushing researchers towards the development of new biobased and/or biodegradable blends and composites able to efficiently replace fossil-based products. For this Special Issue, we welcome papers related to obtaining biobased material solutions with performance equal to or better than their fossil-based counterparts via a deep investigation of the correlation between thermo-mechanical performance, morphology, and processing.

Innovative studies focused on numerical and analytical correlation to predict the mechanical performances of innovative biobased blends and composite materials will also be considered for publication in this Special Issue.

Dr. Laura Aliotta
Dr. Vito Gigante
Prof. Dr. Andrea Lazzeri
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

biobased materials
biocomposites
mechanical performances
biodegradability
sustainability
polymer blends

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 3326 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carbon-Based Composites with Biodegradable Matrix for Flexible Paper Electronics

by Jerzy Szałapak, Bartosz Zdanikowski, Aleksandra Kądziela, Sandra Lepak-Kuc, Łucja Dybowska-Sarapuk, Daniel Janczak, Tomasz Raczyński and Małgorzata Jakubowska

Polymers 2024, 16(5), 686; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16050686 - 2 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 725

Abstract

The authors explore the development of paper-based electronics using carbon-based composites with a biodegradable matrix based on ethyl cellulose and dibasic ester solvent. The main focus is on screen-printing techniques for creating flexible, eco-friendly electronic devices. This research evaluates the printability with the rheological measurements, electrical properties, flexibility, and adhesion of these composites, considering various compositions, including graphene, graphite, and carbon black. The study finds that certain compositions offer sheet resistance below 1 kΩ/sq and good adhesion to paper substrates with just one layer of screen printing, demonstrating the potential for commercial applications, such as single-use electronics, flexible heaters, etc. The study also shows the impact of cyclic bending on the electrical parameters of the prepared layers. This research emphasizes the importance of the biodegradability of the matrix, contributing to the field of sustainable electronics. Overall, this study provides insights into developing environmentally friendly, flexible electronic components, highlighting the role of biodegradable materials in this evolving industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased and Biodegradable Polymer Blends and Composites II)

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16 pages, 2912 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of Novel Flax Fiber/Epoxy Composites with Increased Biobased Content

by Bianca Dal Pont, Vito Gigante, Luca Panariello, Ilaria Canesi, Laura Aliotta and Andrea Lazzeri

Polymers 2023, 15(19), 4030; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15194030 - 9 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1212

Abstract

Currently, biobased epoxy resins derived from plant oils and natural fibers are available on the market and are a promising substitute for fossil-based products. The purpose of this work is to investigate novel lightweight thermoset fiber-reinforced composites with extremely high biobased content. Paying attention to the biobased content, following a cascade pathway, many trials were carried out with different types of resins and hardeners to select the best ones. The most promising formulations were then used to produce flax fiber reinforced composites by vacuum bagging process. The main biocomposite properties such as tensile, bending, and impact properties as well as the individuation of their glass transition temperatures (by DSC) were assessed. Three biocomposite systems were investigated with biobased content ranging from 60 to 91%, obtaining an elastic modulus that varied from 2.7 to 6.3 GPa, a flexural strength from 23 to 108.5 MPa, and Charpy impact strength from 11.9 to 12.2 kJ/m². The properties reached by the new biocomposites are very encouraging; in fact, their stiffness vs. lightweight (calculated by the E/ρ³ ratio) is comparable to some typical epoxy–glass composites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased and Biodegradable Polymer Blends and Composites II)

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Review

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33 pages, 3538 KiB

Open AccessReview

Innovative Biobased and Sustainable Polymer Packaging Solutions for Extending Bread Shelf Life: A Review

by Vito Gigante, Laura Aliotta, Roberta Ascrizzi, Laura Pistelli, Angela Zinnai, Giovanna Batoni, Maria-Beatrice Coltelli and Andrea Lazzeri

Polymers 2023, 15(24), 4700; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15244700 - 13 Dec 2023

Viewed by 1668

Abstract

Sustainable packaging has been steadily gaining prominence within the food industry, with biobased materials emerging as a promising substitute for conventional petroleum-derived plastics. This review is dedicated to the examination of innovative biobased materials in the context of bread packaging. It aims to furnish a comprehensive survey of recent discoveries, fundamental properties, and potential applications. Commencing with an examination of the challenges posed by various bread types and the imperative of extending shelf life, the review underscores the beneficial role of biopolymers as internal coatings or external layers in preserving product freshness while upholding structural integrity. Furthermore, the introduction of biocomposites, resulting from the amalgamation of biopolymers with active biomolecules, fortifies barrier properties, thus shielding bread from moisture, oxygen, and external influences. The review also addresses the associated challenges and opportunities in utilizing biobased materials for bread packaging, accentuating the ongoing requirement for research and innovation to create advanced materials that ensure product integrity while diminishing the environmental footprint. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased and Biodegradable Polymer Blends and Composites II)

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