polymers-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Polyester-Based Eco-Composites

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2021) | Viewed by 10262

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail
Guest Editor
Department of Applied Cosmetology, Kao Yuan University, Kaohsiung County 82101, Taiwan
Interests: green polymer composites; polymer blends; polymeric biomaterials; biodegradable polymers; additive manufacturing (3D printing); electrospinning polymers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Applied Cosmetology, Kao Yuan University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Interests: biomedicine; bioproduct; biopolymer synthesis and analysis

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

For the past few decades, natural recyclates (plant fibers, sea shells, etc.) have been gaining popularity as reinforced substitute materials for polyester composites due to their low prices, health benefits, ability to regenerate and recyclability. The commodities, daily necessities, packaging materials, biomedical materials and 3D printing strip products, etc., made by polyester composites containing natural recyclates have become increasingly trendy. However, the eco-composites have shortcomings in terms of biocompatibility, biodegradability, mechanical properties, poor interfacial adhesion and heat resistance, high sensitivity to moisture absorption, and low aging resistance. This indicates that the eco-composites require further modification and formulation. The purpose of this Special Issue is to promote recent developments pertaining to the performance and functionality of polyester-based eco-composites (e.g., modification methods, mechanical properties, thermal behavior, moisture absorption, biocompatibility, biodegradability and characteristics). This Special Issue covers polymer science and related research for industry.

Prof. Chin-San Wu
Prof. Dr. Shan-Shue Wang
Guest Editors

Keywords

  • recycled natural product
  • green composites
  • recycled natural treatments
  • specific interface
  • hybrid eco-composites
  • polyester matrix composites

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

16 pages, 3763 KiB  
Article
Poly(d,l-Lactic acid) Composite Foams Containing Phosphate Glass Particles Produced via Solid-State Foaming Using CO2 for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications
by Maziar Shah Mohammadi, Ehsan Rezabeigi, Jason Bertram, Benedetto Marelli, Richard Gendron, Showan N. Nazhat and Martin N. Bureau
Polymers 2020, 12(1), 231; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12010231 - 17 Jan 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3998
Abstract
This study reports on the production and characterization of highly porous (up to 91%) composite foams for potential bone tissue engineering (BTE) applications. A calcium phosphate-based glass particulate (PGP) filler of the formulation 50P2O5-40CaO-10TiO2 mol.%, was incorporated into [...] Read more.
This study reports on the production and characterization of highly porous (up to 91%) composite foams for potential bone tissue engineering (BTE) applications. A calcium phosphate-based glass particulate (PGP) filler of the formulation 50P2O5-40CaO-10TiO2 mol.%, was incorporated into biodegradable poly(d,l-lactic acid) (PDLLA) at 5, 10, 20, and 30 vol.%. The composites were fabricated by melt compounding (extrusion) and compression molding, and converted into porous structures through solid-state foaming (SSF) using high-pressure gaseous carbon dioxide. The morphological and mechanical properties of neat PDLLA and composites in both nonporous and porous states were examined. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs showed that the PGPs were well dispersed throughout the matrices. The highly porous composite systems exhibited improved compressive strength and Young’s modulus (up to >2-fold) and well-interconnected macropores (up to ~78% open pores at 30 vol.% PGP) compared to those of the neat PDLLA foam. The pore size of the composite foams decreased with increasing PGPs content from an average of 920 µm for neat PDLLA foam to 190 µm for PDLLA-30PGP. Furthermore, the experimental data was in line with the Gibson and Ashby model, and effective microstructural changes were confirmed to occur upon 30 vol.% PGP incorporation. Interestingly, the SSF technique allowed for a high incorporation of bioactive particles (up to 30 vol.%—equivalent to ~46 wt.%) while maintaining the morphological and mechanical criteria required for BTE scaffolds. Based on the results, the SSF technique can offer more advantages and flexibility for designing composite foams with tunable characteristics compared to other methods used for the fabrication of BTE scaffolds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polyester-Based Eco-Composites)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

20 pages, 8313 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Compatibility on the Structure and Properties of PLA/Lignin Biocomposites by Chemical Modification
by Jianbing Guo, Xiaolang Chen, Jian Wang, Yong He, Haibo Xie and Qiang Zheng
Polymers 2020, 12(1), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12010056 - 31 Dec 2019
Cited by 65 | Viewed by 5700
Abstract
Lignin, a natural amorphous three-dimensional aromatic polymer, is investigated as an appropriate filler for biocomposites. The chemical modification of firsthand lignin is an effective pathway to accomplish acetoacetate functional groups replacing polar hydroxyl (–OH) groups, which capacitates lignin to possess better miscibility with [...] Read more.
Lignin, a natural amorphous three-dimensional aromatic polymer, is investigated as an appropriate filler for biocomposites. The chemical modification of firsthand lignin is an effective pathway to accomplish acetoacetate functional groups replacing polar hydroxyl (–OH) groups, which capacitates lignin to possess better miscibility with poly(lactic acid) (PLA), compared with acidified lignin (Ac-lignin) and butyric lignin (By-lignin), for the sake of blending with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) to constitute a new biopolymer based composites. Generally speaking, the characterization of all PLA composites has been performed taking advantage of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic Mechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), rheological analysis, and tensile test. Visibly, it is significant to highlight that the existence of acetoacetate functional groups enhances the miscibility, interfacial compatibility, and interface interaction between acetoacetate lignin (At-lignin) and PLA. Identical conclusions were obtained in this study where PLA/At-lignin biocomposites furthest maintain the tensile strength of pure PLA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polyester-Based Eco-Composites)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Back to TopTop