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Polymers
Special Issues
Sustainable Biopolymer-Based Composites: Processing, Characterization, and Application II
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Sustainable Biopolymer-Based Composites: Processing, Characterization, and Application II

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2024 | Viewed by 1288

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Raffaella Striani

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Interests: photopolymerization; coatings; organic–inorganic hybrids; bio-based materials; waste valorization; biopolymers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, significant issues related to environmental pollution, health and safety have pushed global research toward finding valid solutions for substituting petroleum-based materials, which would benefit both the environment and people. Biopolymers have gradually become more popular in several application fields in materials science, such as manufacturing, biomedical engineering, the food industry, packaging, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, agriculture, the energy sector, green nanotechnology, and recycling. In attracting the interest of the industrial world, more and more institutions have been forced to comply with restrictions for environmental and health protection.

This Special issue invites all of the research community to contribute its expertise, passion and scientific understanding to expand our knowledge of biopolymers and address new challenges. In particular, we aim to propose new biopolymer-based composites materials that are able to reach and improve upon the properties and performance of traditional synthetic materials, thus guaranteeing environmental sustainability.

This Special Issue welcomes innovative studies (articles, reviews, research reports, etc.) related to the development of biopolymer-based composites and that focus on the processing, characterization and application fields of these new materials.

Dr. Raffaella Striani
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

  • biopolymers
  • sustainability
  • biocomposites
  • green engineering
  • bio-based materials
  • renewable resources
  • biocompatibility
  • biodegradability
  • eco-friendly materials
  • natural polymers

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 5231 KiB  
Article
Thermal Properties’ Enhancement of PLA-Starch-Based Polymer Composite Using Sucrose
by Sri Yustikasari Massijaya, Muhammad Adly Rahandi Lubis, Rossy Choerun Nissa, Yeyen Nurhamiyah, Wida Banar Kusumaningrum, Resti Marlina, Riska Surya Ningrum, Jajang Sutiawan, Iman Hidayat, Sukma Surya Kusumah, Lina Karlinasari and Rudi Hartono
Polymers 2024, 16(8), 1028; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16081028 - 9 Apr 2024
Viewed by 478
Abstract
Polylactic-acid–starch-based polymer composite (PLA/TPS) has good thermal stability for biocomposites. However, the physical and mechanical properties of PLA/TPS do not meet the standards. It needed additives to enhance its physical and mechanical properties. The aim was to improve the physical and mechanical properties [...] Read more.
Polylactic-acid–starch-based polymer composite (PLA/TPS) has good thermal stability for biocomposites. However, the physical and mechanical properties of PLA/TPS do not meet the standards. It needed additives to enhance its physical and mechanical properties. The aim was to improve the physical and mechanical properties of PLA/thermoplastic starch using sucrose. In addition, this study evaluated the enhancement of thermal properties of PLA/thermoplastic starch using sucrose. This study used sucrose as an additive to enhance the PLA/TPS composite. The addition of sucrose inhibits the degradation of biocomposites. This means that thermal stability increases. The thermal stability increased because the degree of crystallinity increased with the addition of sucrose, which was also proven in the XRD result. The addition of sucrose caused the morphology of the biocomposite to have pores. The FESEM results showed that biocomposites with the addition of sucrose had pores and gaps. These gaps result from low adhesion between polymers, causing a decrease in the mechanical and physical properties of the sample. Based on the FTIR spectra, biocomposite PLA/TPS blends with the addition of sucrose still have many hydroxyl groups that will lead to attracting other molecules or ions, such as oxygen or water. This phenomenon affects the physical and mechanical properties of materials. The physical and mechanical properties increased with sucrose addition. The best composite was prepared using 3% sucrose. This is because sucrose has a crystalline structure that affects the properties of biocomposites. However, the addition of 3% sucrose was not as effective as that of neat PLA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biopolymer-Based Composites: Processing, Characterization, and Application II)
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16 pages, 6175 KiB  
Article
Mechanically Tough and Conductive Hydrogels Based on Gelatin and Z–Gln–Gly Generated by Microbial Transglutaminase
by Zhiwei Chen, Ruxin Zhang, Shouwei Zhao, Bing Li, Shuo Wang, Wenhui Lu and Deyi Zhu
Polymers 2024, 16(7), 999; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16070999 - 5 Apr 2024
Viewed by 534
Abstract
Gelatin-based hydrogels with excellent mechanical properties and conductivities are desirable, but their fabrication is challenging. In this work, an innovative approach for the preparation of gelatin-based conductive hydrogels is presented that improves the mechanical and conductive properties of hydrogels by integrating Z–Gln–Gly into [...] Read more.
Gelatin-based hydrogels with excellent mechanical properties and conductivities are desirable, but their fabrication is challenging. In this work, an innovative approach for the preparation of gelatin-based conductive hydrogels is presented that improves the mechanical and conductive properties of hydrogels by integrating Z–Gln–Gly into gelatin polymers via enzymatic crosslinking. In these hydrogels (Gel–TG–ZQG), dynamic π–π stacking interactions are created by the introduction of carbobenzoxy groups, which can increase the elasticity and toughness of the hydrogel and improve the conductivity sensitivity by forming effective electronic pathways. Moreover, the mechanical properties and conductivity of the obtained hydrogel can be controlled by tuning the molar ratio of Z–Gln–Gly to the primary amino groups in gelatin. The hydrogel with the optimal mechanical properties (Gel–TG–ZQG (0.25)) exhibits a high storage modulus, compressive strength, tensile strength, and elongation at break of 7.8 MPa at 10 °C, 0.15 MPa at 80% strain, 0.343 MPa, and 218.30%, respectively. The obtained Gel–TG–ZQG (0.25) strain sensor exhibits a short response/recovery time (260.37 ms/130.02 ms) and high sensitivity (0.138 kPa−1) in small pressure ranges (0–2.3 kPa). The Gel–TG–ZQG (0.25) hydrogel-based sensors can detect full-range human activities, such as swallowing, fist clenching, knee bending and finger pressing, with high sensitivity and stability, yielding highly reproducible and repeatable sensor responses. Additionally, the Gel–TG–ZQG hydrogels are noncytotoxic. All the results demonstrate that the Gel–TG–ZQG hydrogel has potential as a biosensor for wearable devices and health-monitoring systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biopolymer-Based Composites: Processing, Characterization, and Application II)
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