Modifications and Applications of Natural Polymer Materials

Dear Colleagues,

Natural polymer materials are abundant, inexpensive, bio-based, renewable, extremely strong, durable, lightweight, biodegradable, recyclable, carbon binding and safe for people and the environment and less expensive than other advanced materials and nanomaterials. Used as a type of materials additive and in composites, natural polymer materials will help to drive the global move away from oil-based plastics and products to sustainable, bio-based alternatives. Natural polymer materials can be derived from a multitude of abundant biomass sources such as straw, wood pulp, agricultural crops, organic waste, leather, as well as from bacteria. Properties including high tensile strength, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and high aspect ratio make them attractive to a wide range of markets, from medical to construction to aerospace. As natural polymer materials originate from renewable matter, their potential to replace petroleum-derived materials in films, coatings, composites, and packaging is particularly interesting in the wake of the current political and societal movements towards the reduction in plastic consumption. Currently, natural polymer materials are being investigated regarding a number of new cutting-edge applications, including biosensors, catalysis, liquid crystalline polymers, biomaterials and pharmaceuticals. In order to be used in various applications, natural polymer materials often require chemical modification or functionalization, for example by small organic molecules, or by grafting polymers from natural polymer material backbones.

Dr. Xugang Dang
Guest Editor

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