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Polymers
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Structure, Characterization and Application of Bio-Based Polymers
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Structure, Characterization and Application of Bio-Based Polymers

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 3908

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Elisa Passaglia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of chemistry of organometallic compounds (ICCOM), National Research Council (CNR) SS Pisa, Via Moruzzi 1, Pisa, Italy
Interests: polymer functionalization; polymer-based nanocomposites; polymer blending
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bio-based polymers are produced from renewable resources, such as microorganisms, plant waste, and algae. As they accomplish sustainability principles, they are becoming increasingly widespread in the chemical industry as alternatives to polymers produced from non-renewable sources. While bio-based polymers offer the fundamental advantage of being made from raw materials with low environmental impact, they still face undeniable disadvantages related to both the production processes and technological performance. Currently, production processes are not always competitive with those of conventional commodities and require significant innovations to reduce costs and environmental impact (with particular reference to biorefinery processes) and improve yields. In addition, the mechanical and functional characteristics of bio-based polymers are less attractive than those of fossil plastics. To tackle this problem, different chemicals may have to be incorporated to attain the required performance for the intended applications, which could potentially impact ecotoxicological features or reduce biodegradability or compostability when these latter outcomes are inherent to the specific bio-based polymer.

This Special Issue aims to provide an overview of ongoing scientific and industrial research on recent discoveries in the synthesis, characterization, and application of bio-based polymers. Special attention will be given to studies that demonstrate significant progress in the sustainable production of bio-based polymers with functional and high-performance properties. Research and review articles are welcome.

Dr. Elisa Passaglia
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. 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

  • polymer functionalization
  • polymer-based nanocomposites
  • polymer blending
  • bio-based polymers
  • functional polymers

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

27 pages, 8299 KiB  
Article
Monte Carlo Micro-Stress Field Simulations in Flax/E-Glass Composite Laminae with Non-Circular Flax Fibres
by Nenglong Yang, Zhenmin Zou, Constantinos Soutis, Prasad Potluri and Kali Babu Katnam
Polymers 2025, 17(5), 674; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17050674 - 2 Mar 2025
Viewed by 672
Abstract
This study explores the mechanical behaviour of intra-laminar hybrid flax/E-glass composites, focusing on the role of micro-scale irregularities in flax fibres. By employing computational micromechanics and Monte Carlo simulations, it analyses the influence of flax fibre geometry and elastic properties on the performance [...] Read more.
This study explores the mechanical behaviour of intra-laminar hybrid flax/E-glass composites, focusing on the role of micro-scale irregularities in flax fibres. By employing computational micromechanics and Monte Carlo simulations, it analyses the influence of flax fibre geometry and elastic properties on the performance of hybrid and non-hybrid composites. A Non-Circular Fibre Distribution (NCFD) algorithm is introduced to generate microstructures with randomly distributed non-circular flax and circular E-glass fibres, which are then modelled using a 3D representative volume element (RVE) model developed in Python 2.7 and implemented with Abaqus/Standard. The RVE dimensions were specified as ten times the mean characteristic length of flax fibres (580 μm) for the width and length, while the thickness was defined as one-tenth the radius of the E-glass fibre. Results show that Monte Carlo simulations accurately estimate the effect of fibre variabilities on homogenised elastic constants when compared to measured values and Halpin-Tsai predictions, and they effectively evaluate the fibre/matrix interfacial stresses and von Mises matrix stresses. While these variabilities minimally affect the homogenised properties, they increase the presence of highly stressed regions, especially at the interface and matrix of flax/epoxy composites. Additionally, intra-laminar hybridisation further increases local stress in these critical areas. These findings improve our understanding of the relationship between the natural fibre shape and mechanical performance in flax/E-glass composites, providing valuable insights for designing and optimising advanced composite materials to avoid or delay damage, such as matrix cracking and splitting, under higher applied loads. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structure, Characterization and Application of Bio-Based Polymers)
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23 pages, 32809 KiB  
Article
Synergistic Effect of Microbial-Induced Carbonate Precipitation Modified with Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose on Improving Loess Disintegration and Seepage Resistance
by Xingyu Wang and Hong Sun
Polymers 2025, 17(4), 548; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17040548 - 19 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 505
Abstract
Microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) is an eco-friendly soil stabilization technique. This study explores the synergistic effects of incorporating hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) into the MICP process to enhance the disintegration and seepage resistance of loess. A series of disintegration, seepage, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), [...] Read more.
Microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) is an eco-friendly soil stabilization technique. This study explores the synergistic effects of incorporating hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) into the MICP process to enhance the disintegration and seepage resistance of loess. A series of disintegration, seepage, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) tests were conducted. The results show that HPMC forms protective membranes around calcium carbonate crystals produced by MICP and soil aggregates, which enhance cementation, reduce soluble salt dissolution, promote soil particle aggregation, and seal pore structures. At the optimal 0.4% HPMC dosage, the maximum accumulative disintegration percentage and the disintegration velocity decreased to zero. Additionally, HPMC-modified MICP reduced the amount, size, and flow velocity of seepage channels in loess. The integration of MICP with HPMC provides an efficient and sustainable solution for mitigating loess disintegration and seepage issues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structure, Characterization and Application of Bio-Based Polymers)
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18 pages, 2106 KiB  
Article
Experimental and Theoretical Analysis of Dopamine Polymerization on the Surface of Cellulose Nanocrystals and Its Reinforcing Properties in Cellulose Acetate Films
by Amanda Lélis de Souza, Arthur Vinicius de Abreu Oliveira, Laisse Dias Ribeiro, Allan Robledo Fialho e Moraes, Meirielly Jesus, Joana Santos, Taila Veloso de Oliveira and Nilda de Fátima Ferreira Soares
Polymers 2025, 17(3), 345; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17030345 - 27 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1115
Abstract
The study of natural materials inspires sustainable innovations, with biomimetics excelling in surface modification. Polydopamine (PDA) offers a promising approach for modifying cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), enhancing their compatibility with hydrophobic polymers by improving interfacial adhesion. In this work, the modification of CNC with [...] Read more.
The study of natural materials inspires sustainable innovations, with biomimetics excelling in surface modification. Polydopamine (PDA) offers a promising approach for modifying cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), enhancing their compatibility with hydrophobic polymers by improving interfacial adhesion. In this work, the modification of CNC with PDA (CNC@PDA) significantly enhanced the compatibility between the nanocargoes and the cellulose acetate (CA) matrix. The CNC@PDA complex formation was suggested through a combination of FTIR analysis, particle size distribution measurements and ζ-potential analysis. However, the exact mechanism behind dopamine polymerization on the surface of CNC remains a subject of ongoing debate among researchers due to its complexity. This study hypothesized the formation of modified CNC through this process. Furthermore, this study provided a satisfactory investigation of the antimicrobial activity of CNC@PDA in response to bacterial strains (E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and L. plantarum) in view of the hypothesis of the possible generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Additionally, the incorporation of CNC@PDA CA films was analyzed to assess its effect as a mechanical reinforcement agent. The results showed an improvement in mechanical properties, with the 1% CNC@PDA film exhibiting the best balance between tensile strength and flexibility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structure, Characterization and Application of Bio-Based Polymers)
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15 pages, 5133 KiB  
Article
Comparing Hydrolysable and Condensed Tannins for Tannin Protein-Based Foams
by Jonas Eckardt, Lorenzo Moro, Elena Colusso, Primož Šket, Samuele Giovando and Gianluca Tondi
Polymers 2025, 17(2), 153; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17020153 - 9 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1090
Abstract
Tannin-based foams have gained attention as a potential bio-based alternative to conventional synthetic foams. Traditionally, namely condensed tannins (CT) have been used, leaving the potential of hydrolysable tannins (HT) largely unexplored. This study compared the performance of chestnut (HT) and quebracho (CT) in [...] Read more.
Tannin-based foams have gained attention as a potential bio-based alternative to conventional synthetic foams. Traditionally, namely condensed tannins (CT) have been used, leaving the potential of hydrolysable tannins (HT) largely unexplored. This study compared the performance of chestnut (HT) and quebracho (CT) in tannin–protein-based foams at different tannin ratios. Using soy protein isolate (SPI) and hexamine under acidic conditions, a series of tannin foams were produced through a mechanical foaming method and analyzed for cell structure, compression strength, thermal conductivity, and chemical stability. Results show that chestnut tannin is viable in hexamine SPI formulations but is harder to process due to lower reactivity, further resulting in higher material densities compared to quebracho. Foams with higher quebracho content featured smaller, more interconnected cells, while increasing chestnut content led to larger, less interconnected cells. Compression strength decreased with higher chestnut content, while fire resistance and thermal conductivity were influenced by material density rather than tannin type. The 13C-NMR analysis revealed covalent bonding of hexamine with both tannins, but potential covalent bonds with SPI were undetectable. Overall, chestnut tannin can substitute quebracho tannin in hexamine-SPI foams, though with compromises in terms of specific material properties and processability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structure, Characterization and Application of Bio-Based Polymers)
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