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Polymers
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Eco-Friendly Polymers and Polymer Composites
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Eco-Friendly Polymers and Polymer Composites

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 November 2023) | Viewed by 9425

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Kaixin Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Interests: eco-friendly polymers; biomass-derived polymers; biomass conversion
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Yonggang Min

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Interests: polyimide, biodegradable polymers; polymerization

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nowadays, there is a strong incentive to develop eco-friendly polymers and related polymer composites due to their sustainability, comparable performance to fossil-derived polymeric materials, and minimal impact on the environment.  Eco-friendly polymers are generally obtained from a renewable and environmental raw material such as biomass or biomass-derived feedstock, resulting in a biocompatibility with the ecosystem and inherent self-degradation without any external force-driving. A wide spectrum of preparations, modifications, and applications for the technological development of eco-friendly polymers is essential and necessary for modern society. Currently, a Special Issue on the topic of “Eco-Friendly Polymers and Polymer Composites” is placed on, but not limited to, the following:

  • Eco-friendly polymers preparation and characterization;
  • Monomers synthesized from renewable resources such as biomass or biomass-derived feedstock;
  • Polymerization without any wastewater release;
  • Alternatives to the existing harmful reaction conditions and catalysts for polymerization;
  • Fundamental science for the design and functionalization of eco-friendly polymers;
  • Novel application of eco-friendly polymers;
  • Technological development for eco-friendly polymers.

Dr. Kaixin Li
Prof. Dr. Yonggang Min
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.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 4514 KiB  
Article
Thermal, Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Gamma-Irradiated Plant-Derived Polyamide 1010
by Maiko Morino, Yosuke Nishitani, Tatsuya Kitagawa and Shinya Kikutani
Polymers 2023, 15(14), 3111; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15143111 - 21 Jul 2023
Viewed by 972
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the influence of the gamma-irradiation dose and the addition of the cross-linking agent (triallyl isocyanurate (TAIC)) on the thermal, mechanical and tribological properties of plant-derived polyamide 1010 (PA1010). PA1010 and PA1010/TAIC were extruded using a twin screw extruder [...] Read more.
In this study, we investigated the influence of the gamma-irradiation dose and the addition of the cross-linking agent (triallyl isocyanurate (TAIC)) on the thermal, mechanical and tribological properties of plant-derived polyamide 1010 (PA1010). PA1010 and PA1010/TAIC were extruded using a twin screw extruder and injection molded. These specimens were then irradiated with gamma-ray in air with doses of 20 and 50 kGy. After gamma-irradiation, the specimens were heat-treated to remove the free radicals generated in the polymer. The combination of gamma-irradiation and the addition of TAIC significantly changed the crystal structures of PA1010. Glass transition temperature increased with the addition of TAIC and, in particular, with increasing gamma-irradiation dose. Moreover, PA1010/TAIC showed a rubbery plateau originating from cross-links by gamma-irradiation, which was observed in the temperature regions above the melting point in DMA measurements. Mechanical properties such as strength, modulus and hardness, and tribological properties such as frictional coefficient, specific wear rate and limiting pv (pressure p × velocity v) value of PA1010 improved with change in the internal microstructure with the gamma-irradiation and addition of TAIC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eco-Friendly Polymers and Polymer Composites)
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12 pages, 6280 KiB  
Article
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from Endophytic Bacterial Strains as Potential Biocontrol Agents against Postharvest Diseases of Apples
by Lyudmila Ignatova, Yelena Brazhnikova, Anel Omirbekova and Aizhamal Usmanova
Polymers 2023, 15(9), 2184; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15092184 - 04 May 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1491
Abstract
Due to the increasing use and accumulation of petrochemical plastics in the environment and the rapid depletion of natural resources, microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates have great potential to replace them. This study provides new insights in the field of obtaining of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from endophytic [...] Read more.
Due to the increasing use and accumulation of petrochemical plastics in the environment and the rapid depletion of natural resources, microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates have great potential to replace them. This study provides new insights in the field of obtaining of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from endophytic bacterial strains and applying them as potential biocontrol agents against postharvest diseases of apples. Two strains—Pseudomonas flavescens D5 and Bacillus aerophilus A2—accumulated PHAs in amounts ranging from 2.77 to 5.9 g L−1. The potential to use low-cost substrates such as beet molasses and soapstock for PHA accumulation was shown. The PHAs produced by the Ps. flavescens D5 strain had pronounced antagonistic activity against Penicillium expansum (antifungal property = 62.98–73.08%). The use of PHAs as biocontrol agents significantly reduced the severity of apple blue mold, especially in the preventive treatment option. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eco-Friendly Polymers and Polymer Composites)
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17 pages, 17032 KiB  
Article
Ring Opening Polymerization Used for the Production of VOC Free High-Performance Ecofriendly Novel PBZ/PDA/CeO2 Nanocomposites
by Mehdi Hatami, Zohreh Seifi Najaf Abadi, Alireza Yousefi, Mohammad Qandalee, Nader Djafarzadeh, Yaser Ghasemi, Ignacio M. López-Coca and Carlos J. Durán-Valle
Polymers 2023, 15(6), 1416; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15061416 - 13 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1529
Abstract
This study analyzed the fabrication and characterization of polybenzoxazine/polydopamine/ceria as tertiary nanocomposites. To this end, a new benzoxazine monomer (MBZ) was fabricated based on the well-known Mannich reaction of naphthalene-1-amine, 2-tert-butylbenzene-1,4-diol and formaldehyde under ultrasonic-assisted process. Polydopamine (PDA) was used as dispersing polymer [...] Read more.
This study analyzed the fabrication and characterization of polybenzoxazine/polydopamine/ceria as tertiary nanocomposites. To this end, a new benzoxazine monomer (MBZ) was fabricated based on the well-known Mannich reaction of naphthalene-1-amine, 2-tert-butylbenzene-1,4-diol and formaldehyde under ultrasonic-assisted process. Polydopamine (PDA) was used as dispersing polymer nanoparticles and surface modifier for CeO2 by in-situ polymerization of dopamine with the assistance of ultrasonic waves. Then, nanocomposites (NC)s were manufactured by in-situ route under thermal conditions. The FT-IR and 1H-NMR spectra confirmed the preparation of the designed MBZ monomer. The FE-SEM and TEM results showed the morphological aspects of prepared NCs and illustrated the distribution of CeO2 NPs in the polymer matrix. The XRD patterns of NCs showed the presence of crystalline phases of nanoscale CeO2 in an amorphous matrix. The TGA results reveal that the prepared NCs are classified as thermally stable materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eco-Friendly Polymers and Polymer Composites)
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12 pages, 4215 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of Furan-Based Diamine and Its Application in the Preparation of Bio-Based Polyimide
by Yao Zhang, Lei Chen, Yima He, Weiyu Luo, Kaixin Li and Yonggang Min
Polymers 2023, 15(5), 1088; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15051088 - 22 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1687
Abstract
Furan-based compounds are a new class of compounds characteristic of wide abundance, feasible availability, and environmental friendliness. Presently, polyimide (PI) is the best membrane insulation material in the world, which is widely used in the fields of national defense, liquid crystals, lasers, and [...] Read more.
Furan-based compounds are a new class of compounds characteristic of wide abundance, feasible availability, and environmental friendliness. Presently, polyimide (PI) is the best membrane insulation material in the world, which is widely used in the fields of national defense, liquid crystals, lasers, and so on. At present, most polyimides are synthesized using petroleum-based monomers bearing benzene rings, while furan-based compounds bearing furan rings are rarely used as monomers. The production of petroleum-based monomers is always associated with many environmental issues, and their substitution with furan-based compounds seems a solution to addressing these issues. In this paper, t-butoxycarbonylglycine (BOC-glycine) and 2,5-furandimethanol, bearing furan rings, were employed to synthesize BOC-glycine 2,5-furandimethyl ester, which was further applied for the synthesis of furan-based diamine. This diamine is generally used to synthesize bio-based PI. Their structures and properties were thoroughly characterized. The characterization results showed that BOC-glycine could be effectively obtained using different posttreatment methods. And BOC-glycine 2,5-furandimethyl ester could be effectively obtained by optimizing the accelerating agent of 1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide(DCC) with either 1.25 mol/L or 1.875 mol/L as the optimum value. The PIs originated from furan-based compounds were synthesized and their thermal stability and surface morphology were further characterized. Although the obtained membrane was slightly brittle (mostly due to the less rigidity of furan ring as compared with benzene ring), the excellent thermal stability and smooth surface endow it a potential substitution for petroleum-based polymers. And the current research is also expected to shed some insight into the design and the fabrication of eco-friendly polymers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eco-Friendly Polymers and Polymer Composites)
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11 pages, 18661 KiB  
Article
Ring-Opening Polymerization of Trimethylene Carbonate with Phosphazene Organocatalyst
by Jianglin Zhu, Xiaoming Luo and Xin Li
Polymers 2023, 15(3), 720; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15030720 - 31 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1505
Abstract
Aliphatic polycarbonate (APC) compounds are an important class of biodegradable materials with excellent biocompatibility, good biodegradability, and low toxicity, and the study of these compounds and their modification products aims to obtain biodegradable materials with better performance. In this context, the ring-opening polymerization [...] Read more.
Aliphatic polycarbonate (APC) compounds are an important class of biodegradable materials with excellent biocompatibility, good biodegradability, and low toxicity, and the study of these compounds and their modification products aims to obtain biodegradable materials with better performance. In this context, the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of trimethylene carbonate (TMC) from a low nucleophilic organic superbase of phosphazene (t-BuP4) as a catalyst and benzyl alcohol (BnOH) as an initiator at room temperature was carefully studied to prepare poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) which is one of the most studied APC. 1H NMR and SEC measurements clearly demonstrate the presence of a benzyloxy group at the α-terminus of the obtained PTMC homopolymers while investigation of the polymerization kinetics confirms the controlled/living nature of t-BuP4-catalyzed ROP of TMC. On the basis of this, the block copolymerization of TMC and δ-valerolactone (VL)/ε-caprolactone (CL) was successfully carried out to give PTMC-b-PCL and PTMC-b-PVL copolymers. Furthermore, PTMC with terminal functionality was also prepared with the organocatalytic ROP of TMC through functional initiators. We believe that the present ROP system is a robust, highly efficient, and practical strategy for producing excellent biocompatible and biodegradable PTMC-based materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eco-Friendly Polymers and Polymer Composites)
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14 pages, 5267 KiB  
Article
Removal of Organic Pollutants with Polylactic Acid-Based Nanofiber Composites
by Dengbang Jiang, Xiushuang Song, Heng Zhang and Mingwei Yuan
Polymers 2022, 14(21), 4622; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14214622 - 31 Oct 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1373
Abstract
In the process of using nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalytic treatment of organic polluted liquid, the easy aggregation and recycling difficulty of nano-TiO2 particles are important problems that cannot be avoided. Anchoring nano-TiO2 to the substrate not only limits the [...] Read more.
In the process of using nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalytic treatment of organic polluted liquid, the easy aggregation and recycling difficulty of nano-TiO2 particles are important problems that cannot be avoided. Anchoring nano-TiO2 to the substrate not only limits the aggregation of nano-TiO2, but also facilitates the easy removal and reuse of nano-TiO2 after processing. Herein, coaxial electrospun nanofibrous (NFs) made of L-polylactic acid (PLLA) and chitosan (CS) are coated with graphene oxide (GO) and TiO2 for the enhanced oxidation of organic pollutants. The adsorption and photocatalysis experiment results show that, for methyl orange (MO) dye solution, the saturated removal of MO by PLLA/CS, PLLA/CS-GO and PLLA/CS-GO/TiO2 nanofibers are 60.09 mg/g, 78.25 mg/g and 153.22 mg/g, respectively; for the Congo red (CR) dye solution, the saturated removal of CR by PLLA/CS, PLLA/CS-GO and PLLA/CS-GO/TiO2 nanofiber materials were 138.01 mg/g, 150.22 mg/g and 795.44 mg/g, respectively. These three composite nanofiber membrane materials can maintain more than 80% of their adsorption capacity after four repeated cycles. They are environmentally friendly and efficient organic pollution remediation materials with promising application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eco-Friendly Polymers and Polymer Composites)
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