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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 November 2024) | Viewed by 9305

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Dr. Luca Cozzarini

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Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
Interests: polymeric and composite materials testing; infrared spectroscopy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The use of plastic objects has dramatically boosted during the last several decades, and is now widespread in everyday life, leading to a massive expansion in plastic production worldwide. Plastics are an essential part of the world we live in, and their use in contemporary society will certainly continue to expand as fast as designers and engineers are able to introduce further innovations. However, as the number of applications increases, so does the impact that the production, maintenance and disposal of these objects have on the environment, since most of them are designed to be single-use or disposable parts. The plastic manufacturing industry is undergoing rapid evolution, with many emerging trends of great potential interest. Innovation along the entire plastics chain will be paramount to reduce the environmental impact. In this Special Issue, particular emphasis will be given (but not limited) to topics related to innovations in plastic manufacturing and recycling relevant to the following fields:

Sustainability and circular economy;
Bio-based plastics;
Packaging;
Building, construction and home appliance;
Transportation and mobility;
Energy and electronics;

Plastic to fuel conversion.

Dr. Luca Cozzarini
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

manufacturing
sustainability
bio-based plastics
packaging
energy
recycling

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 2052 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Overcoming Challenges in the Commercialization of Biopolymers: From Research to Applications—A Review

by Simon Schick, Julia Heindel, Robert Groten and Gunnar H. Seide

Polymers 2024, 16(24), 3498; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16243498 - 16 Dec 2024

Viewed by 1540

Abstract

Biopolymers are promising sustainable alternatives to petrochemical polymers, but the recent increase in published research articles has not translated into marketable products. Here, we discuss barriers to market entry by exploring application-specific, ecological, and economic aspects, such as the utilization of biodegradable polymers to mitigate the accumulation of microplastics. We summarize previous studies revealing how fiber surface properties and the dwell time during fiber spinning affect degradability. We show how biopolymers can be processed on existing machines and how degradability can be tailored by changing process parameters. This novel approach, known as degradation by design, will allow us to rethink product development and ensure that biopolymers are not only able to replace petrochemical polymers but also reduce the environmental harm they cause. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plastics Industry)

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12 pages, 3835 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Scleroglucan-Based Foam Incorporating Recycled Rigid Polyurethane Waste for Novel Insulation Material Production

by Luca Cozzarini, Lucia Marsich and Alessio Ferluga

Polymers 2024, 16(10), 1360; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16101360 - 10 May 2024

Viewed by 1852

Abstract

This study details the synthesis and performance evaluation of a novel lightweight thermal and acoustic insulation material, resulting from the combination of a scleroglucan-based hydrogel and recycled rigid polyurethane waste powder. Through a sublimation-driven water-removal process, a porous three-dimensional network structure is formed, showcasing notable thermal and acoustic insulation properties. Experimental data are presented to highlight the material’s performance, including comparisons with commercially available mineral wool and polymeric foams. This material versatility is demonstrated through tunable mechanical, thermal and acoustic characteristics, achieved by strategically adjusting the concentration of the biopolymer and additives. This adaptability positions the material as a promising candidate for different insulation applications. Addressing environmental concerns related to rigid polyurethane waste disposal, the study contributes to the circular economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plastics Industry)

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21 pages, 28709 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing the Fatigue Strength of the Weld Line in Advanced Polymer Injection Molding: Gas-Assisted Mold Temperature Control for Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) Composites

by Pham Son Minh, Tran Minh The Uyen, Thanh Trung Do, Van-Thuc Nguyen and Van Thanh Tien Nguyen

Polymers 2023, 15(11), 2440; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15112440 - 25 May 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2504

Abstract

This study presents an innovative approach to enhancing weld line strength in advanced polymer injection molding through applying gas-assisted mold temperature control, significantly increasing mold temperature beyond typical values observed in conventional processes. We investigate the effects of various heating times and frequencies on the fatigue strength of Polypropylene (PP) samples and the tensile strength of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) composite samples at different Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) percentages and heating times. Using gas-assisted mold heating, mold temperatures exceeding 210 °C are achieved, which represents a significant advancement compared to the standard mold temperatures of less than 100 °C. As a result, the fatigue strength of the PP sample with mold heating at 15 s shows a remarkable increase of up to 5.4 times at 5 Hz compared to the sample without mold temperature control. Moreover, ABS/TPU blends with 15 wt.% TPU exhibit the highest ultimate tensile strength (UTS) value of 36.8 MPa, while blends with 30 wt.% TPU have the lowest UTS value of 21.3 MPa. This advancement demonstrates the potential for improved welding line bonding and fatigue strength in manufacturing. Our findings reveal that increasing the mold temperature before injection results in higher fatigue strength in the weld line, with the TPU percentage having a more significant influence on the mechanical properties of ABS/TPU blends than heating time. The results of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of advanced polymer injection molding and offer valuable insights for process optimization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plastics Industry)

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14 pages, 17659 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influences of TPU Content on the Weld Line Characteristics of PP and ABS Blends

by Thanh Trung Do, Van-Thuc Nguyen, Huynh Do Song Toan, Pham Son Minh, Tran Minh The Uyen, Trung H. Huynh, Vinh Tien Nguyen and Van Thanh Tien Nguyen

Polymers 2023, 15(10), 2321; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15102321 - 16 May 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2714

Abstract

This study aims to explore the effects of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) content on the weld line properties of Polypropylene (PP) and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) blends. In PP/TPU blends, increasing the TPU content results in a significant decrease in the PP/TPU composite’s ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elongation values. Blends with 10 wt%, 15 wt%, and 20 wt% TPU and pure PP outperform blends with 10 wt%, 15 wt%, and 20 wt% TPU and recycled PP in terms of UTS value. The blend with 10 wt% TPU and pure PP achieves the highest UTS value of 21.85 MPa. However, the blend’s elongation decreases due to the poor bonding in the weld line area. According to Taguchi’s analysis, the TPU factor has a more significant overall influence on the mechanical properties of PP/TPU blends than the recycled PP factor. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) results show that the TPU area has a dimple shape on the fracture surface due to its significantly higher elongation value. The 15 wt% TPU sample achieves the highest UTS value of 35.7 MPa in ABS/TPU blends, which is considerably higher than other cases, indicating good compatibility between ABS and TPU. The sample containing 20 wt% TPU has the lowest UTS value of 21.2 MPa. Furthermore, the elongation-changing pattern corresponds to the UTS value. Interestingly, SEM results present that the fracture surface of this blend is flatter than the PP/TPU blend due to a higher compatibility rate. The 30 wt% TPU sample has a higher rate of dimple area than the 10 wt% TPU sample. Moreover, ABS/TPU blends gain a higher UTS value than PP/TPU blends. Increasing the TPU ratio mainly reduces the elastic modulus of both ABS/TPU blends and PP/TPU blends. This study reveals the advantages and disadvantages of mixing TPU with PP or ABS to ensure that it meets the requirements of the intended applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plastics Industry)

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