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Bio-Based Plastics and Biocomposite Materials
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Bio-Based Plastics and Biocomposite Materials

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Composites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2023) | Viewed by 14291

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Stephan Kabasci

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Project Development Division 'Products', Fraunhofer UMSICHT, Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology, Osterfelder Str. 3, 46047 Oberhausen, Germany
Interests: circular economy; bio-based plastics; biodegradation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The plastic industry accounts for approximately five percent of the global carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. The prospected growth in plastic production in the forthcoming decades will likely increase the absolute emissions as well as the share of plastic-related emissions. In order to avoid this contribution to climate change, plastics production must switch to renewable energy supply, use as much of recycled input as possible, reduce the increase in production of plastics and, last but not least, accelerate the switch to bio-based raw materials.

Plastics and composites produced from renewable sources in general release lower amounts of carbon dioxide. In recent years, the range of technically competitive products for many applications has greatly increased.

The main goal of this Special Issue is to highlight original research articles and review papers concerning recent advances in bio-based materials and biocomposites as well as progress in enhancing processes to produce and convert them. The main topics covered in this Special Issue include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Innovative bio-based polymers, plastics and biocomposites for industrially relevant applications;
  • New bio-based additives to increase the performance of bio-based plastics and biocomposites;
  • Recent findings on economic, environmental and social effects of substituting fossil-based plastics with renewable alternatives.

Dr. Stephan Kabasci
Guest Editor

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. Materials 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 2600 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 plastics
  • biocomposites
  • natural fibre reinforced materials
  • bio-based additives
  • sustainability assessment
  • material performance
  • greenhouse gas emissions reduction

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 10165 KiB  
Article
Aging Process of Biocomposites with the PLA Matrix Modified with Different Types of Cellulose
by Piotr Szatkowski, Jacek Gralewski, Katarzyna Suchorowiec, Karolina Kosowska, Bartosz Mielan and Michał Kisilewicz
Materials 2024, 17(1), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17010022 (registering DOI) - 20 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1079
Abstract
In the modern world, many products are disposable or have a very short lifespan, while at the same time, those products are made from materials that will remain in the environment in the form of waste for hundreds or even thousands of years. [...] Read more.
In the modern world, many products are disposable or have a very short lifespan, while at the same time, those products are made from materials that will remain in the environment in the form of waste for hundreds or even thousands of years. It is a serious problem; non-biodegradable polymer wastes are part of environmental pollution and generate microplastics, which accumulate in the organisms of living beings. One of the proposed solutions is biodegradable polymers and their composites. In our work, three types of polylactide-based composites with plant-derived fillers: microcellulose powder, short flax fibers, and wood flour at 2 wt.% were prepared. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-based biocomposite properties were characterized in terms of mechanical and surface properties together with microscopic analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), before and after a UV (ultraviolet)-light-aging process to determine the effects of each cellulose-based additive on the UV-induced degradation process. This research shows that the addition of a cellulose additive can improve the properties of the material in terms of the UV-aging process, but the form of the chosen cellulose form plays a crucial role in this case. The testing of physicochemical properties demonstrated that not only can mechanical properties be improved, but also the time of degradation under UV light exposure can be controlled by the proper selection of the reinforcing phase and the parameters of the extrusion and injection molding process. The obtained results turned out to be very interesting, not only in terms of the cost reduction of the biocomposites themselves, as mainly the waste from the wood industry was used as a low-cost filler, but also that the additive delays the aging process occurring during UV light exposure. Even a small, 2 wt.% addition of some of the tested forms of cellulose delayed surface degradation, which is one of the most important factors affecting the biodegradation process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Based Plastics and Biocomposite Materials)
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19 pages, 10953 KiB  
Article
Development of High Strength Particleboards from Hemp Shives and Corn Starch
by Aurelija Rimkienė, Sigitas Vėjelis, Arūnas Kremensas, Saulius Vaitkus and Agnė Kairytė
Materials 2023, 16(14), 5003; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16145003 - 14 Jul 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 904
Abstract
In the current study, high-strength boards for the construction industry were developed from renewable natural resources, fibrous hemp shives, and corn starch. During the research, the influence of the composition of the mixture, the processing of raw materials, and technological parameters on the [...] Read more.
In the current study, high-strength boards for the construction industry were developed from renewable natural resources, fibrous hemp shives, and corn starch. During the research, the influence of the composition of the mixture, the processing of raw materials, and technological parameters on the operational properties of the board were evaluated. The influence of the binding material and the water content on the properties of the molded boards was evaluated. It was established that the rational amount of starch is 15% of the mass of the shives, and the amount of water is 10%. It has been established that with the proper selection of the forming parameters of the board, it is possible to avoid internal disintegration of the structure due to the water vapor pressure, increase the bending strength, and ensure uniform sintering of the board throughout the entire volume. It was found that additional processing of hemp shives can increase bending strength by more than 40%. Furthermore, during the processing of shives by chemical means, soluble substances are washed out, which reduces the density and thermal conductivity of the shives. Selection of a rational level of compression allowed us to increase the bending strength of the boards by 40%. The assessment of all factors made it possible to obtain boards with a bending strength of 40 MPa. The additives used made it possible to reduce the water absorption of the boards up to 16 times and obtain non-flammable boards. The thermal conductivity of the resulting boards varied from 0.07 to 0.095 W/(m·K). The analysis of macrostructure and microstructure allowed us to evaluate the process of the formation of bonds between hemp shives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Based Plastics and Biocomposite Materials)
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15 pages, 5163 KiB  
Article
Sapropel as a Binding Material for Wood Processing Waste in the Development of Thermal Insulation Biocomposite
by Sigitas Vėjelis, Meruert Bolatkyzy Karimova, Tokzhan Kuangalyevna Kuatbayeva, Agnė Kairytė and Jurga Šeputytė-Jucikė
Materials 2023, 16(6), 2230; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16062230 - 10 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1178
Abstract
When developing new innovative building materials, their performance characteristics as well as their environmental friendliness are important. It is difficult to produce a fully ecological material for building envelopes, because there is a lack of ecological binding materials on the market, good binding [...] Read more.
When developing new innovative building materials, their performance characteristics as well as their environmental friendliness are important. It is difficult to produce a fully ecological material for building envelopes, because there is a lack of ecological binding materials on the market, good binding materials are very expensive, and cheaper ones have poorer adhesive properties and performance characteristics. In this work, natural organic sapropel was used as an ecological binder. Before use, an organic sapropel was additionally mechanically activated. Its activation efficiency was evaluated on the basis of consistency and tensile strength. Sapropel activation increased its consistency from 112 to 168 mm and its tensile strength from 466 to 958 kPa. Wood processing waste was used as a filler for the thermal insulation biocomposite. Additionally, the wood waste was chopped to regulate the density and main performance properties of the biocomposite. The density of the biocomposite was also regulated using different amounts of sapropel and the degree of compaction of the composite mixture. In this work, the influence of the amount of sapropel, the level of compression of the biocomposite mixture, and the size of the wood waste particles on the thermal conductivity and compressive stress of the biocomposite was analyzed. It was found that the compression level had the greatest influence on both the compressive stress and thermal conductivity, up to 12 times and 43.3%, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Based Plastics and Biocomposite Materials)
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12 pages, 3749 KiB  
Article
Reuse of Textile Waste in the Production of Sound Absorption Boards
by Sigitas Vėjelis, Saulius Vaitkus, Arūnas Kremensas, Agnė Kairytė and Jurga Šeputytė-Jucikė
Materials 2023, 16(5), 1987; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16051987 - 28 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1666
Abstract
Textile waste is formed in various stages, from the preparation of raw materials to the utilisation of textile products. One of the sources of textile waste is the production of woollen yarns. During the production of woollen yarns, waste is generated during the [...] Read more.
Textile waste is formed in various stages, from the preparation of raw materials to the utilisation of textile products. One of the sources of textile waste is the production of woollen yarns. During the production of woollen yarns, waste is generated during the mixing, carding, roving, and spinning processes. This waste is disposed of in landfills or cogeneration plants. However, there are many examples of textile waste being recycled and new products being produced. This work deals with acoustic boards made from waste from the production of woollen yarns. This waste was generated in various yarn production processes up to the spinning stage. Due to the parameters, this waste was not suitable for further use in the production of yarns. During the work, the composition of waste from the production of woollen yarns was examined–namely, the amount of fibrous and nonfibrous materials, the composition of impurities, and the parameters of the fibres themselves. It was determined that about 74% of the waste is suitable for the production of acoustic boards. Four series of boards with different densities and different thicknesses were made with waste from the production of woollen yarns. The boards were made in a nonwoven line using carding technology to obtain semi-finished products from the individual layers of combed fibres and thermal treatment of the prepared semi-finished product. The sound absorption coefficients in the sound frequency range between 125 and 2000 Hz were determined for the manufactured boards, and the sound reduction coefficients were calculated. It was found that the acoustic characteristics of soft boards made from woollen yarn waste are very similar to those of classic boards or sound insulation products made from renewable resources. At a board density of 40 kg/m3, the value of the sound absorption coefficient varied from 0.4 to 0.9, and the noise reduction coefficient reached 0.65. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Based Plastics and Biocomposite Materials)
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15 pages, 4694 KiB  
Article
Visual–Tactile Perception of Biobased Composites
by Manu Thundathil, Ali Reza Nazmi, Bahareh Shahri, Nick Emerson, Jörg Müssig and Tim Huber
Materials 2023, 16(5), 1844; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16051844 - 23 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1663
Abstract
Biobased composites offer unique properties in the context of sustainable material production as well as end-of-life disposal, which places them as viable alternatives to fossil-fuel-based materials. However, the large-scale application of these materials in product design is hindered by their perceptual handicaps and [...] Read more.
Biobased composites offer unique properties in the context of sustainable material production as well as end-of-life disposal, which places them as viable alternatives to fossil-fuel-based materials. However, the large-scale application of these materials in product design is hindered by their perceptual handicaps and understanding the mechanism of biobased composite perception, and its constituents could pave the way to creating commercially successful biobased composites. This study examines the role of bimodal (visual and tactile) sensory evaluation in the formation of biobased composite perception through the Semantic Differential method. It is observed that the biobased composites could be grouped into different clusters based on the dominance and interplay of various senses in perception forming. Attributes such as Natural, Beautiful, and Valuable are seen to correlate with each other positively and are influenced by both visual and tactile characteristics of the biobased composites. Attributes such as Complex, Interesting, and Unusual are also positively correlated but dominated by visual stimuli. The perceptual relationships and components of beauty, naturality, and value and their constituent attributes are identified, along with the visual and tactile characteristics that influence these assessments. Material design leveraging these biobased composite characteristics could lead to the creation of sustainable materials that would be more attractive to designers and consumers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Based Plastics and Biocomposite Materials)
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17 pages, 6458 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Composites from Nature to Construction: Hemp and Linseed Reinforced Biocomposites Based on Bio-Based Epoxy Resins
by Julio Vidal, David Ponce, Alice Mija, Monika Rymarczyk and Pere Castell
Materials 2023, 16(3), 1283; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031283 - 2 Feb 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1831
Abstract
The present manuscript describes the use of natural fibers as natural and sustainable reinforcement agents for advanced bio-based composite materials for strategic sectors, for example, the construction sector. The characterization carried out shows the potential of both natural hemp and linseed fibers, as [...] Read more.
The present manuscript describes the use of natural fibers as natural and sustainable reinforcement agents for advanced bio-based composite materials for strategic sectors, for example, the construction sector. The characterization carried out shows the potential of both natural hemp and linseed fibers, as well as their composites, which can be used as insulation materials because their thermal conductivity properties can be compared with those observed in typical construction materials such as pine wood. Nevertheless, linseed composites show better mechanical performance and hemp has higher fire resistance. It has been demonstrated that these natural fibers share similar properties; on the other hand, each of them should be used for a specific purpose. The work also evaluates the use of bio matrixes in composites, demonstrating their feasibility and how they impact the final material’s properties. The proposed bio-resin enhances fire resistance and decreases the water absorption capacity of the natural fibers, enabling the use of composites as a final product in the construction sector. Therefore, it has been demonstrated that it is possible to manufacture a biocomposite with non-woven natural fibers. In fact, for properties such as thermal conductivity, it is capable of competing with current materials. Proving that biomaterials are a suitable solution for developing sustainable products, fulfilling the requirements of the end-user applications, as it has been demonstrated in this research with the non-woven fibers for the non-structural components. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Based Plastics and Biocomposite Materials)
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17 pages, 6648 KiB  
Article
Flammability of Polymer Compositions Filled with Wheat Bran
by Emil Sasimowski, Bronisław Samujło, Marta Grochowicz and Łukasz Majewski
Materials 2022, 15(24), 8955; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15248955 - 15 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1167
Abstract
The article presents the results of flammability tests on polymer compositions with wheat bran (WB) as the applied filler, and polyethylene (PE) or poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) as the matrix material. Tests were conducted using samples of compositions containing 10, 30 and 50%wt wheat [...] Read more.
The article presents the results of flammability tests on polymer compositions with wheat bran (WB) as the applied filler, and polyethylene (PE) or poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) as the matrix material. Tests were conducted using samples of compositions containing 10, 30 and 50%wt wheat bran. The test samples were manufactured by injection moulding from compositions previously produced by extrusion pelleting. For comparative purposes, samples made only of the plastics used for the composition matrix were also examined. Flammability tests were carried out in accordance with the recommendations of EN 60695-11-10 Part 11–10 with horizontal and vertical positioning of the sample, using a universal flammability-test-stand. During the flammability tests, changes in the temperature field in the area of the burning sample were also recorded, using a thermal imaging camera. Sample residues after flammability tests were also examined with infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to assess their thermal destruction. The results of the study showed a significant increase in flammability with bran content for both PE and PBS matrix compositions. Clear differences were also found in the combustion behaviour of the matrix materials alone. Both the burning rate and maximum flame temperature were lower in favour of PBS. PBS compositions with wheat bran also showed lower flammability, compared with their PE matrix counterparts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Based Plastics and Biocomposite Materials)
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Review

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20 pages, 1781 KiB  
Review
Modified Biomass-Reinforced Polylactic Acid Composites
by Junjie Zhu, Hui Sun, Biao Yang and Yunxuan Weng
Materials 2024, 17(2), 336; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17020336 - 9 Jan 2024
Viewed by 986
Abstract
Polylactic acid (PLA), as a renewable and biodegradable green polymer material, is hailed as one of the most promising biopolymers capable of replacing petroleum-derived polymers for industrial applications. Nevertheless, its limited toughness, thermal stability, and barrier properties have restricted its extensive application. To [...] Read more.
Polylactic acid (PLA), as a renewable and biodegradable green polymer material, is hailed as one of the most promising biopolymers capable of replacing petroleum-derived polymers for industrial applications. Nevertheless, its limited toughness, thermal stability, and barrier properties have restricted its extensive application. To address these drawbacks in PLA, research efforts have primarily focused on enhancing its properties through copolymerization, blending, and plasticization. Notably, the blending of modified biomass with PLA is expected not only to effectively improve its deficiencies but also to maintain its biodegradability, creating a fully green composite with substantial developmental prospects. This review provides a comprehensive overview of modified biomass-reinforced PLA, with an emphasis on the improvements in PLA’s mechanical properties, thermal stability, and barrier properties achieved through modified cellulose, lignin, and starch. At the end of the article, a brief exploration of plasma modification of biomass is presented and provides a promising outlook for the application of reinforced PLA composite materials in the future. This review provides valuable insights regarding the path towards enhancing PLA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Based Plastics and Biocomposite Materials)
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25 pages, 1723 KiB  
Review
Active Food Packaging Made of Biopolymer-Based Composites
by Xuanjun Hu, Chao Lu, Howyn Tang, Hossein Pouri, Etienne Joulin and Jin Zhang
Materials 2023, 16(1), 279; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010279 - 28 Dec 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2774
Abstract
Food packaging plays a vital role in protecting food products from environmental damage and preventing contamination from microorganisms. Conventional food packaging made of plastics produced from unrenewable fossil resources is hard to degrade and poses a negative impact on environmental sustainability. Natural biopolymers [...] Read more.
Food packaging plays a vital role in protecting food products from environmental damage and preventing contamination from microorganisms. Conventional food packaging made of plastics produced from unrenewable fossil resources is hard to degrade and poses a negative impact on environmental sustainability. Natural biopolymers are attracting interest for reducing environmental problems to achieve a sustainable society, because of their abundance, biocompatibility, biodegradability, chemical stability, and non-toxicity. Active packaging systems composed of these biopolymers and biopolymer-based composites go beyond simply acting as a barrier to maintain food quality. This review provides a comprehensive overview of natural biopolymer materials used as matrices for food packaging. The antioxidant, water barrier, and oxygen barrier properties of these composites are compared and discussed. Furthermore, biopolymer-based composites integrated with antimicrobial agents—such as inorganic nanostructures and natural products—are reviewed, and the related mechanisms are discussed in terms of antimicrobial function. In summary, composites used for active food packaging systems can inhibit microbial growth and maintain food quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Based Plastics and Biocomposite Materials)
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