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Polymers
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Thermomechanical Development of Bio-Based Polymer Materials
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Thermomechanical Development of Bio-Based Polymer Materials

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomacromolecules, Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2023) | Viewed by 11641

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Carlos Bengoechea

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Sevilla, 41011 Sevilla, Spain
Interests: complex fluids; rheology; emulsification; gelation; mixing; biopolymers; bioplastic; revalorization; processing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Estefanía Álvarez-Castillo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad de Sevilla, 41011 Sevilla, Spain
Interests: bio-based materials; biowaste revalorization; porcine plasma; rheology; superabsorbent materials; injection molding
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

This Special Issue aims to provide an overview of the development of new materials from bioresources through thermomechanical techniques. A special focus is set on the definition of convenient processing conditions and formulation required for a successful development of the pursued material with the right final properties. The materials produced should cope with the responsibility of being natural biodegradable substitutes of common synthetic materials with a negative environmental impact, so that their final properties should be comparable. In this way, the obtainment of bio-based materials could promote a reduction or, at least, obstruct a higher increase in the carbon footprint.

Prof. Dr. Carlos Bengoechea
Dr. Estefanía Álvarez-Castillo
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

  • bio-based material
  • bioplastic
  • biomaterial
  • bio-waste
  • residues
  • by-product
  • protein
  • polysaccharide
  • injection molding
  • compression
  • characterization
  • biodegradable
  • eco-friendly
  • polymer

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 5086 KiB  
Article
Effect of Processing Time of Steam-Explosion for the Extraction of Cellulose Fibers from Phoenix canariensis Palm Leaves as Potential Renewable Feedstock for Materials
by Maria Angeles Pérez-Limiñana, Henoc Pérez-Aguilar, Carlos Ruzafa-Silvestre, Elena Orgilés-Calpena and Francisca Arán-Ais
Polymers 2022, 14(23), 5206; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14235206 - 29 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1655
Abstract
This paper briefly discusses the utilization of pruning wastes as a lignocellulosic source of cellulose fibers, which could be of potential use in the development of valuable materials such as sustainable textiles and fillers for footwear components including uppers and soles. Phoenix canariensis [...] Read more.
This paper briefly discusses the utilization of pruning wastes as a lignocellulosic source of cellulose fibers, which could be of potential use in the development of valuable materials such as sustainable textiles and fillers for footwear components including uppers and soles. Phoenix canariensis palm leaves, one of the most common plants found in the local environment of the Alicante region (Spain), was used as a biomass raw material. Determining appropriate processing parameters and their desired range of maximum cellulose extraction states is key to improving yields. Therefore, this study aimed at determining the effect of processing conditions on cellulose extraction by optimizing the hydrothermal process, as a part of overall combined processes involving several steps. Specifically, the time of the steam-explosion stage was varied between 15 and 33 min in order to maximize the cellulose extraction yield. The composition of both the extracted fibers and the resulting by-product solutions generated during the different steps were determined by FTIR and TGA in order to analyze the effectiveness of removing hemicellulose, lignin and extractives as well as the removed substances at each stage for their further valorization. Additionally, the morphology of cellulosic fibers was evaluated by SEM and their crystallinity by XRD. Crystalline cellulose fibers were successfully extracted from pruning biomass wastes, achieving more efficient removal of hemicellulose and lignin when the hydrothermal process was assessed over 25–33 min. This resulted in finer and smoother fibers, but the crystallinity of α-cellulose decreased as the time of steam-explosion increased to 33 min. The characterization of waste solutions generated after the different extraction steps confirmed that the most effective treatments to remove lignin and hemicellulose from the cell wall are alkaline pretreatment and a hydrothermal process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermomechanical Development of Bio-Based Polymer Materials)
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27 pages, 7506 KiB  
Article
Poly(Glycerol Succinate) as Coating Material for 1393 Bioactive Glass Porous Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications
by Eirini A. Nakiou, Maria Lazaridou, Georgia K. Pouroutzidou, Anna Michopoulou, Ioannis Tsamesidis, Liliana Liverani, Marcela Arango-Ospina, Anastasia Beketova, Aldo R. Boccaccini, Eleana Kontonasaki and Dimitrios N. Bikiaris
Polymers 2022, 14(22), 5028; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14225028 - 19 Nov 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4164
Abstract
Background: Aliphatic polyesters are widely used for biomedical, pharmaceutical and environmental applications due to their high biodegradability and cost-effective production. Recently, star and hyperbranched polyesters based on glycerol and ω-carboxy fatty diacids have gained considerable interest. Succinic acid and bio-based diacids similar to [...] Read more.
Background: Aliphatic polyesters are widely used for biomedical, pharmaceutical and environmental applications due to their high biodegradability and cost-effective production. Recently, star and hyperbranched polyesters based on glycerol and ω-carboxy fatty diacids have gained considerable interest. Succinic acid and bio-based diacids similar to glycerol are regarded as safe materials according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Bioactive glass scaffolds utilized in bone tissue engineering are relatively brittle materials. However, their mechanical properties can be improved by using polymer coatings that can further control their degradation rate, tailor their biocompatibility and enhance their performance. The purpose of this study is to explore a new biopolyester poly(glycerol succinate) (PGSuc) reinforced with mesoporous bioactive nanoparticles (MSNs) as a novel coating material to produce hybrid scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Methods: Bioactive glass scaffolds were coated with neat PGSuc, PGSuc loaded with dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DexSP) and PGSuc loaded with DexSP-laden MSNs. The physicochemical, mechanical and biological properties of the scaffolds were also evaluated. Results: Preliminary data are provided showing that polymer coatings with and without MSNs improved the physicochemical properties of the 1393 bioactive glass scaffolds and increased the ALP activity and alizarin red staining, suggesting osteogenic differentiation potential when cultured with adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Conclusions: PGSuc with incorporated MSNs coated onto 1393 bioactive glass scaffolds could be promising candidates in bone tissue engineering applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermomechanical Development of Bio-Based Polymer Materials)
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18 pages, 4718 KiB  
Article
Biopolymer-Based Films Reinforced with FexOy-Nanoparticles
by Johar Amin Ahmed Abdullah, Mercedes Jiménez-Rosado, José J. Benítez, Antonio Guerrero and Alberto Romero
Polymers 2022, 14(21), 4487; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14214487 - 23 Oct 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 1989
Abstract
Nowadays, natural polymer-based films are considered potentially environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional plastic films, due to many advantageous properties, including their easy processability, high flexibility, non-toxicity, low cost, high availability, and environmental safety. However, they are limited in their application by a number [...] Read more.
Nowadays, natural polymer-based films are considered potentially environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional plastic films, due to many advantageous properties, including their easy processability, high flexibility, non-toxicity, low cost, high availability, and environmental safety. However, they are limited in their application by a number of shortcomings, including their high water solubility and vapor permeability as well as their poor opacity and low mechanical resistance. Thus, nanoparticles, such as green FexOy-NPs, can be used to overcome the drawbacks associated with these materials. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop three different polymer-based films (gelatin-based, cellulose acetate-based and chitosan-based films) containing green synthesized FexOy-NPs (1.0% w/w of the initial polymer weight) as an additive to improve film properties. This was accomplished by preparing the different films using the casting method and examining their physicochemical, mechanical, microstructural, and functional characteristics. The results show that the incorporation of FexOy-NPs into the different films significantly enhanced their physicochemical, mechanical, and morphological properties as well as their antioxidant characteristics. Consequently, it was possible to produce suitable natural polymer-based films with potential applications across a wide range of industries, including functional packaging for food, antioxidants, and antimicrobial additives for pharmaceutical and biomedical materials as well as pesticides for agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermomechanical Development of Bio-Based Polymer Materials)
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11 pages, 2486 KiB  
Article
Mechanical Behavior of Thermoplastic Starch: Rationale for the Temperature-Relative Humidity Equivalence
by Lise Leroy, Gregory Stoclet, Jean-Marc Lefebvre and Valerie Gaucher
Polymers 2022, 14(13), 2531; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14132531 - 21 Jun 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1638
Abstract
This paper aimed at understanding and rationalizing the influence of both temperature and relative humidity on the mechanical behavior of thermoplastic starch (TPS). DMA experiments revealed that water molecules impact the crosslinking network by reducing the intermolecular hydrogen bond density, resulting in a [...] Read more.
This paper aimed at understanding and rationalizing the influence of both temperature and relative humidity on the mechanical behavior of thermoplastic starch (TPS). DMA experiments revealed that water molecules impact the crosslinking network by reducing the intermolecular hydrogen bond density, resulting in a less dense entanglement network. In addition, the in-situ X-ray characterization during hydration of starch revealed structural changes, which were ascribed to conformational changes in the starch chain, due to their interaction with the uptake water molecules. Finally, the study of TPS uniaxially stretched at different temperatures and humidity showed that the mechanical behavior of TPS could be rationalized by considering the ΔT parameter, which corresponds to the temperature difference between the drawing temperature and the glass transition temperature of TPS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermomechanical Development of Bio-Based Polymer Materials)
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12 pages, 1668 KiB  
Article
Eco-Composites from Silkworm Meal and Polycaprolactone: Effect of Formulation and Processing Conditions
by María Luisa López-Castejón, María Luisa Reviriego, Estefanía Álvarez-Castillo, José M. Aguilar and Carlos Bengoechea
Polymers 2022, 14(12), 2342; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14122342 - 9 Jun 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1319
Abstract
The production of green plastic materials from defatted silkworm meal (SW) through a scalable technique (e.g., injection moulding) would permit the revalorization of a by-product of the textile industry. The textile by-product contains an estimable protein content (~50%) which can justify its applicability [...] Read more.
The production of green plastic materials from defatted silkworm meal (SW) through a scalable technique (e.g., injection moulding) would permit the revalorization of a by-product of the textile industry. The textile by-product contains an estimable protein content (~50%) which can justify its applicability in the field of eco-materials. Thus, SW-based materials have been processed and characterized, sometimes requiring the addition of another biodegradable polymer, such as polycaprolactone (PCL), in the formulation. Thermomechanical, tensile and water uptake properties have been assessed at different PCL contents (from 0 to 20%). The viscoelasticity of the plastic composites when heated was greatly affected by the melting point of PCL, which also led generally to an increase in their extensibility and resistance. However, this effect of PCL was diminished when composites were processed at higher moulding temperatures. As PCL possesses a hydrophobic character, a decrease in the water uptake was generally detected as PCL content increased, which could also be related to the lower plasticizer content in the formulation. Silkworm meal is an adequate ingredient to consider in the production of green plastic materials that would eventually add value to a main by-product of the sericulture industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermomechanical Development of Bio-Based Polymer Materials)
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