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Synthesis, Characterization and Environmental Assessment of Novel Polymeric Materials for Sustainable Applications

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A Special Issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360) belonging to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2026) | Viewed by 17535

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Dr. Valentina Siracusa

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Department of Chemical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
Interests: polyesters; synthesis; chemical modification; thermal properties; mechanical properties; barrier properties; biodegradability; food packaging; active packaging; diffusion; permeability; bio-based and biodegradable polymers; polymers from waste; nanocomposites; biocomposites; life cycle assessment
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is well known that polymers have become key materials for strategic sectors, such as packaging, transportation, building and construction, electrical and electronic, agriculture, medical and sport devices, thanks to their versatility and to their high resource efficiency. Considering the fast-growing population, the high security demand and the control of climate change, our society needs to choose the most efficient solution in order to guarantee the most sustainable development. Plastic materials and products made of plastic offer these advantages because they are extremely resource efficient during their service-life, helping us to avoid waste and consequently to save energy and to decrease CO₂ emissions.

Actually, in order to reduce the environmental impact, much attention has been given to plastic obtained from renewable resources, named bio-based plastics.

In order to obtain the best engineering solution, the optimization of their properties is of crucial importance. The knowledge of their chemical, mechanical, thermal, optical and barrier properties is essential, due to the fact that these properties are strictly correlated with the intrinsic structure of the polymers such as the degree of crystallinity, crystalline/amorphous phase ratio, thermal and mechanical treatment, environment, nature of chemical groups present in the polymer, degree of crosslinking, thermal behavior, molecular weight, addition of nanoparticles, etc.

The aim of this Special Issue is to collect and give an overview of the ongoing scientific and industrial research of the recent technological breakthroughs and emerging technologies developed for novel polymers, either fossil fuel-based or bio-based, for every application.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Valentina Siracusa
Guest Editor

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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-anonymized 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.

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Keywords

bio-based polymers
biodegradable polymers
compostable polymers
packaging
biomedical application
engineering application
structure–property relationship
polymers from wastes
nanocomposites
new polymer technologies

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 3231 KB

Open AccessArticle

Silk Fibroin/Chitosan Blended Microparticles: Preparation, Characterization, and Oil Absorption

by Ansaya Thonpho, Suchai Tanisood, Wilaiwan Simchuer, Yodthong Baimark and Prasong Srihanam

Polymers 2026, 18(12), 1496; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18121496 - 14 Jun 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 640

Abstract

In this work, we extracted silk fibroin (SF) via a tertiary solvent system (CaCl₂:Ethanol:H₂O) and then blended it with chitosan (CS) solution to construct microparticles using the water-in-oil-emulsion–diffusion method. For the mixture of SF/CS solution aqueous phase (W) was prepared at ratios of 4:0, 3:1, 1:1, 1:3, and 0:4, using ethyl acetate as the oil phase (O). After the microparticles were prepared, their morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The optimal preparation conditions were determined to be a 1% (w/v) aqueous phase with a volume of 1 milliliter, 100 milliliters of oil phase, and a stirring speed of 700 rpm. The average microparticle size was 50–100 micrometers. ATR−FTIR spectra showed unique functional groups of SF and CS, as well as interactions between the two polymers. The results of the thermal property study using a TGA instrument showed that SF microparticles had a higher maximum decomposition temperature (T_d_,_max) than chitosan, and the blended microparticles’ T_d_,_max increased with the proportion of SF. Most microparticles exhibited a semi-crystalline polymer structure, with SF microparticles being the most hydrophobic, followed by blended microparticles and CS, respectively. Testing for absorption capacity, the SF microparticles were more effective at absorbing used engine oil than vegetable oil and chloroform, while CS microparticles showed the highest capacity for vegetable oil. The experimental results indicated that all SF/CS blended particles played an efficiency of absorption variable by ratios of SF or CS blended. This suggested that the prepared microparticles might be useful for oil/water separation application. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Characterization and Environmental Assessment of Novel Polymeric Materials for Sustainable Applications)

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15 pages, 7069 KB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanically Enhanced and Reprocessable Vanillin-Based Epoxy Resin via Synergistic Effect of Rigid Cross-Linked Networks and Alkyl Dangling Chains

by Likang Zhou, Songjie Xu, Junhao Fei, Meng Ma, Huiwen He, Yanqin Shi, Yulu Zhu, Si Chen and Xu Wang

Polymers 2026, 18(10), 1226; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18101226 - 17 May 2026

Viewed by 665

Abstract

The cross-linked network structure of epoxy resins gives them excellent mechanical properties and heat resistance. However, it also makes them difficult to reprocess and recycle. This leads to environmental pollution and resource waste. Dynamic covalent bonds can make epoxy resins reprocessable. However, this involves a hard trade-off: adding flexible segments improves processing stability at the cost of mechanical strength, whereas keeping a rigid backbone retains the initial strength but leads to incomplete network reformation after multiple reprocessing cycles. As a result, performance continues to decrease. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a new strategy. It combines rigid cross-linked networks with alkyl dangling chains. The strategy does not sacrifice the rigid backbone of the epoxy. Instead, the alkyl dangling chains form physical entanglements during reprocessing. These entanglements compensate for the loss of chemical cross-linking density. Thus, the mechanical properties are retained or even enhanced. A vanillin-based Schiff base epoxy system was used. Alkyl dangling chains of different lengths were compared, and the results show that the system with longer alkyl dangling chains had higher mechanical properties after three reprocessing cycles; its tensile toughness increased by 85.7% compared to the system without dangling chains. At the same time, its thermal stability and glass transition temperature remained almost unchanged. This strategy effectively solves the conflict between strength and processing stability in reprocessable epoxy resins, as well as providing a new idea for designing green, high-performance, and closed-loop recyclable epoxy materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Characterization and Environmental Assessment of Novel Polymeric Materials for Sustainable Applications)

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23 pages, 6903 KB

Open AccessArticle

Production and Characterization of Poly(lactic acid) and Poly(ε-caprolactone) Films Enriched with Pomegranate Peel Extract: Toward Biodegradable and Sustainable Food Packaging

by Ömer Faruk Uslu, Nebahat Aral, Sinem Argün and Özge Taştan Ülkü

Polymers 2026, 18(7), 896; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18070896 - 7 Apr 2026

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1149

Abstract

Recently, more sustainable and biodegradable packaging materials have begun to attract attention in food packaging due to major, rising concerns related to plastic usage. This study aims to develop and characterize biodegradable food packaging materials, namely poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) enriched with pomegranate peel extract (PoPE). Firstly, the optimal extract selected was a 24 h maceration of PoPE with 60% ethanol, after production with different solvents and methods. PLA- and PCL-based films were produced via melt compounding with the addition of PoPE at different concentrations (1, 3, 5 and 10%, w/w). FTIR confirmed that the PoPE did not modify the chemical backbones of PLA or PCL, with only a more pronounced O–H band in PCL, suggesting mainly non-covalent/physical interactions. UV–Vis spectroscopy showed tunable warm coloration and strong UV shielding with reduced transparency; for PLA ~3–5 wt.%, PoPE enabled near-complete UV blocking, while PCL achieved very high UV protection even at low loadings. PoPE improved toughness in PLA (3–5 wt.%) and maintained ductility in PCL (1–10 wt.%). PoPE-added PLA and PCL films maintained thermal stability up to 10 wt.% according to TGA results. DSC/XRD indicated a matrix-dependent crystallization response. PLA remained largely amorphous, whereas PoPE promoted PCL crystallinity without changing polymer crystal polymorphs. SEM images revealed homogenous dispersion of PoPE in the films. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Characterization and Environmental Assessment of Novel Polymeric Materials for Sustainable Applications)

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24 pages, 11848 KB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of the Biodegradability Potential of Antibacterial Poly(lactic acid)/Glycero-(9,10-trioxolane)-trialeate Films in Soil

by Olga V. Alexeeva, Yulia V. Tertyshnaya, Sergey S. Kozlov, Vyacheslav V. Podmasterev, Valentina Siracusa, Olga K. Karyagina, Sergey M. Lomakin, Tuyara V. Petrova, Levon Yu. Martirosyan, Anna B. Nikolskaia and Alexey L. Iordanskii

Polymers 2026, 18(2), 216; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18020216 - 13 Jan 2026

Viewed by 819

Abstract

Glycerol-(9,10-trioxolane) trioleate (OTOA) is a promising material that combines good plasticizing properties for PLA with profound antimicrobial activity, which makes it suitable for application in state-of-the-art biomedical and packaging materials with added functionality. In this study, the biodegradation kinetics of PLA + OTOA mixed films under soil conditions was assessed over 180 days. Structural and morphological changes that occurred on the surface and in the volume of the films during degradation were scrutinized using DSC, X-ray diffraction, IR, and UV spectroscopy. Morphological changes were assessed using optical and confocal microscopes. The different behavior of the PLA + OTOA blend films during decomposition in soil is explained by their structure and the rate of release of antibacterial OTOA from the PLA matrix. The decomposition rate constants were determined for all films, where k_d for PLA samples is 28 µm·year⁻¹, for samples containing 10% and 30% OTOA k_d is 2 µm·year⁻¹, and for PLA + 50% OTOA samples k_d = 34 µm·year⁻¹. This is explained by changes in the structure and degree of crystallinity of materials during the process of aging in the soil. These results clarify the biodegradation processes of biomaterials containing antibacterial agents in their structure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Characterization and Environmental Assessment of Novel Polymeric Materials for Sustainable Applications)

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13 pages, 4990 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of the Alkali Pretreatment on the Structure and Properties of Bamboo-Based Porous Molding Materials

by Baoyong Liu, Weichen Li, Xiaowei Zhuang, Xin Pan, Hui Qiao and Yongshun Feng

Polymers 2025, 17(23), 3166; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17233166 - 28 Nov 2025

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1459

Abstract

The development of novel materials from biomass is a potential alternative to replace traditional petrochemical resources. In accordance with the “Bamboo Substitute Plastic” initiative, bamboo-based lightweight porous materials are a class of foam materials fully prepared from biomass resources with a lightweight and high-strength structure. However, issues such as excessive lignin content and uneven pore structure distribution within these materials hinder their application. This study utilized bamboo powder as a raw material to prepare lightweight, porous molding materials through a hydrothermal grinding process. The influence of different concentrations of alkaline pretreatment was investigated. The fabricated molding material had a density of 0.36–0.49 g/cm³ at 80 °C and 0.32–0.38 g/cm³ at 105 °C. Samples dried at 80 °C had a water absorption of 161% to 304%, while those dried at 105 °C had a water absorption of 223% to 305%. The wet swelling was characterized by volume expansion from 6.2% to 7.7%. The surface of the molding materials became increasingly homogeneous without any cracks due to the alkali pretreatment. FTIR data showed that more surface hydroxyl groups were observed after alkaline pretreatment, and some carbonyl groups in the hemicellulose structure were removed; meanwhile, the crystallinity index after alkaline pretreatment was higher than that of untreated bamboo. The alkali solution was proposed to remove part of the lignin and improve the fibrillation degree of the bamboo fibers. The highest tensile strength of the samples was 9.63 MPa, while the highest compressive strength obtained was 0.92 MPa under the alkali treatment. With lightweight and fully degradable properties, the bamboo-based porous molding materials have promising application prospects in environmental protection, construction, packaging, and related fields. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Characterization and Environmental Assessment of Novel Polymeric Materials for Sustainable Applications)

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16 pages, 2905 KB

Open AccessArticle

Study of the Mechanical Recycling on the Properties of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Aliphatic Polyketone Composites

by Annamária Polyákné Kovács, Yitbarek Firew Minale, Mariann Éva Hegedűs and Tamás József Szabó

Polymers 2025, 17(20), 2743; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17202743 - 14 Oct 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1826

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the effects of repeated mechanical recycling on the properties of a novel aliphatic polyketone composite reinforced with 15 wt% and 30 wt% glass fibers (PK15GF and PK30GF), providing insights into its potential for sustainable engineering applications. The investigation focuses on three main aspects: changes in melt flow index (MFI) and viscosity, the influence of glass fiber content on thermal and mechanical stability, and the retention of structural integrity and crystallinity under multiple processing cycles. Composites, commercially available since 2019, were subjected to single- and five-cycle recycling with 100% reprocessed content. Comprehensive characterization—including tensile testing, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Melt-Flow Index (MFI), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), and mechanical tensile testing—revealed filler-dependent alterations in morphology, thermal stability, and crystallinity. MFI decreased from 100.56 to 42.63 g/10 min for PK15GF, indicating pronounced chain scission, recombination, and crosslinking, whereas PK30GF decreased only from 89.00 to 59.76 g/10 min. FT-IR spectra confirmed greater crosslinking in PK15GF, while DSC and DMA demonstrated smaller T_g and ΔHm variations in PK30GF (T_g +0.45 °C, ΔHm −13.93 J·g⁻¹) versus PK15GF (T_g +1.13 °C, ΔHm −69.24 J·g⁻¹). These findings reveal that higher glass fiber content mitigates degradation, preserves structural integrity, and maintains thermal and viscoelastic stability, establishing clear correlations between filler content, mechanical performance, and recyclability. Overall, this work provides mechanistic insights into degradation pathways and demonstrates the potential of glass fiber-reinforced aliphatic polyketones for sustainable, high-performance engineering and automotive applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Characterization and Environmental Assessment of Novel Polymeric Materials for Sustainable Applications)

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25 pages, 9606 KB

Open AccessArticle

Development and Characterization of Peruvian Native Potato Starch/PVA-Based pH-Sensitive Films Incorporated with Purple Potato Anthocyanin Extract for Food Packaging

by Leandro Neodini Remedio and Carolina Parada-Quinayá

Polymers 2025, 17(13), 1813; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17131813 - 29 Jun 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2463

Abstract

Intelligent films (IFs) incorporating natural colorants and biodegradable materials offer innovative solutions for monitoring food freshness and spoilage. This study evaluated the impact of varying the PVA-APN ratio on films formulated with Peruvian Purple Potato starch (APN) and anthocyanin extract (AE). The research focused on the effects of PVA on physicochemical and mechanical characteristics, as well as the color changes observed when the films were used with seafood. The results indicated a decrease in chroma a* and an increase in chroma b* when the films were in contact with different buffer solutions (from acidic to alkaline). Solubility decreased with higher starch concentrations and the mechanical properties revealed a reduced tensile strength and elongation with increased APN concentration. The films effectively indicated freshness, with the best ΔE values for the 50:50 formulations (13.6 ± 1.6 and 12.04 ± 2.8 for fish and shrimp, respectively), making them promising candidates for intelligent seafood packaging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Characterization and Environmental Assessment of Novel Polymeric Materials for Sustainable Applications)

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16 pages, 3472 KB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Sodium Alginate Bioplastic Reinforced with Dried Orange Juice By-Product for Use in Packaging

by Pedro H. S. Bezerra, Yves J. Souza-Santos, Eliria M. J. A. Pallone, Rosemary A. Carvalho and Fernanda M. Vanin

Polymers 2024, 16(23), 3382; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16233382 - 30 Nov 2024

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 6363

Abstract

Pollution caused by nonrenewable plastics has driven the use of natural polymers. Similarly, the disposal of food waste still harms the environment. Considering both aspects, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of incorporating orange by-product powder (OBP) as a reinforcing material into sodium alginate films with glycerol. Sodium alginate-based films were produced using glycerol and various concentrations of OBP. The films were characterized in terms of thickness, color, water content, mechanical properties, light transmission, transparency, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), contact angle, solubility, swelling, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The addition of OBP significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the water content of the film from 37.75% ± 5.80a (0-OBP) to 24.49% ± 1.47b (45-OBP). The higher the concentration of OBP, the higher the tensile strength of the films, from 7.99 MPa ± 0.91a (0-OBP) to 18 MPa ± 1.38d (45-OBP), and the higher the hydrophobicity, from 57.60° ± 0.41a (0-OBP) to 70.34° ± 0.98c (45-OBP). From TGA and XRD analyses, it was observed that the incorporation of OBP resulted in less crystalline and more thermally resistant materials. Therefore, this study shows that OBP is a promising reinforcing component for sodium alginate films. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Characterization and Environmental Assessment of Novel Polymeric Materials for Sustainable Applications)

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Review

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28 pages, 1246 KB

Open AccessReview

Research Progress in the Preparation of Lactide

by Meiqi Tian, Yingjian Zhou, Junhao Wang, Ziqi Cai, Zhipeng Li and Zhengming Gao

Polymers 2026, 18(12), 1484; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18121484 - 12 Jun 2026

Viewed by 959

Abstract

Driven by the growing demand for sustainable polymers, polylactic acid (PLA) has attracted increasing attention due to its renewable origin and biodegradability. Lactide, the key cyclic monomer for PLA production via ring-opening polymerization (ROP), plays a decisive role in determining the molecular weight, stereoregularity, and final performance of PLA materials. However, current lactide synthesis processes still face significant challenges, including competing side reactions under high-temperature and high-vacuum conditions, difficulties in controlling stereochemical purity, and relatively high energy consumption. In this review, recent advances in lactide synthesis are systematically analyzed by examining the two principal industrial routes: the one-step process based on the direct dehydration–cyclization of lactic acid (LA), and the two-step process involving prepolymerization of LA followed by depolymerization/cyclization of oligomeric intermediates. The reaction mechanisms, key intermediates, and major side reactions—including racemization, transesterification, and deep polycondensation—are discussed, together with the regulatory roles of catalytic systems and reaction–separation coupling strategies. Comparative analysis reveals that the one-step route offers advantages in process integration and potential energy efficiency, whereas the two-step route provides superior control over stereochemical purity and process stability. Future research directions focusing on green catalysts, process intensification, and sustainable lactide production are also highlighted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Characterization and Environmental Assessment of Novel Polymeric Materials for Sustainable Applications)

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