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Polymers
Special Issues
Sustainable Biopolymer-Based Composites and Nanocomposites: Functionalization, Processing, Characterization
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Sustainable Biopolymer-Based Composites and Nanocomposites: Functionalization, Processing, Characterization

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 1251

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Carlos Bruno Barreto Luna

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Academic Unit of Materials Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58429-900, Brazil
Interests: polymer composites; natural fibers; polymer nanocomposites; nanofillers (clay, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and ferrites); sustainable materials; biopolymers; polymer blends; polymer processing; polymer recycling; polymer degradation
Prof. Dr. Renate Maria Ramos Wellen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Materials Engineering, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
Interests: crystallization and polymer properties; curing processes and property control; biologically-based polymers; modification of polymers and polymeric composites; polymer nanocomposites; kinetics of crystallization; curing kinetics; degradation kinetics; biodegradation kinetics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymers is pleased to announce an upcoming Special Issue dedicated to biopolymer-based composites and nanocomposites. The fascinating field of sustainable composites and nanocomposites has progressed rapidly in recent decades. Consequently, extensive academic research has been conducted to enable applications in the various plastics processing sectors.

Composites and nanocomposites based on biopolymers are on the rise. Several arguments justify using these materials, which are ecological materials, sustainable, good processable, possess relatively low weight, and yield social benefits. Furthermore, when the fillers/nanofillers are well distributed and dispersed, composites and nanocomposites can present good mechanical, thermal, thermomechanical, electrical, and electromagnetic properties. On account of this, extensive attention is paid to producing sustainable composites and nanocomposites to replace basic polymers. This Special Issue highlights progress in biopolymer-based composites and nanocomposites, processing, characterization, properties, and applications.

Authors are invited to submit their studies on biopolymer-based composites and nanocomposites for this Special Edition, which aims to present progress and expand the literature database on the topic.

Dr. Carlos Bruno Barreto Luna
Prof. Dr. Renate Maria Ramos Wellen
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.

Keywords

  • sustainable materials
  • polymers from renewable resources (PLA, PHB, PCL, PBAT, BioPE, etc.)
  • polymer composites
  • polymer nanocomposites
  • natural fibers
  • nanofillers (carbon nanotubes, graphene, clay, ferrite, etc.)
  • mechanical, thermal, electrical, thermomechanical, rheological properties
  • biodegradation of biopolymer-based composites and nanocomposites
  • composites and nanocomposites processing
  • composite and nanocomposite molding methods

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

25 pages, 5177 KiB  
Article
From Waste to Styrene–Butadiene (SBR) Reuse: Developing PP/SBR/SEP Mixtures with Carbon Nanotubes for Antistatic Application
by Edson Duarte de Melo Sobrinho, Eduardo da Silva Barbosa Ferreira, Flávio Urbano da Silva, Elieber Barros Bezerra, Renate Maria Ramos Wellen, Edcleide Maria Araújo and Carlos Bruno Barreto Luna
Polymers 2024, 16(17), 2542; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16172542 - 8 Sep 2024
Viewed by 798
Abstract
Styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) waste from the shoe industry was repurposed to produce polypropylene (PP)-based compounds, with the aim of evaluating their antistatic potential. Styrene–ethylene–propylene (SEP) was added as a compatibilizing agent, while carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were incorporated as a conductive nanofiller. The polymer [...] Read more.
Styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) waste from the shoe industry was repurposed to produce polypropylene (PP)-based compounds, with the aim of evaluating their antistatic potential. Styrene–ethylene–propylene (SEP) was added as a compatibilizing agent, while carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were incorporated as a conductive nanofiller. The polymer compounds were processed in an internal mixer, and injection molded. The properties evaluated included torque rheometry, melt flow index (MFI), impact strength, tensile strength, Shore D hardness, electrical conductivity, heat deflection temperature (HDT), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), along with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphology analysis. The production of the PP/SBR/SEP (60/30/10 wt%) compound resulted in a ductile material, enhancing impact strength and elongation at break to 161.2% and 165.2%, respectively, compared to pure PP. The addition of SEP improved the compatibility of the PP/SBR system, leading to an increase in the torque curve and a reduction in the MFI. Furthermore, the SBR/SEP combination in PP accelerated the crystallization process and increased the degree of crystallinity, suggesting a nucleating effect. Carbon nanotubes, in concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 2 phr (parts per hundred resin), were added to the PP/SBR/SEP system. Only the PP/SBR/SEP/MWCNT compound with 2 phr of MWCNT was suitable for antistatic applications, exhibiting an electrical conductivity of 4.52 × 10−07 S/cm. This was due to the greater distribution of MWCNT in the PP matrix, as demonstrated by SEM. In addition, remains tough at room temperature, with a 166% increase in impact strength compared to PP. However, there was a reduction in elastic modulus, tensile strength, Shore D hardness, and HDT due to increased flexibility. SBR waste can be reintegrated into the production chain to produce antistatic polymeric compounds, obtaining a tough material at room temperature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biopolymer-Based Composites and Nanocomposites: Functionalization, Processing, Characterization)
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