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Polymers
Special Issues
Processing and Applications of Biopolymers
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Processing and Applications of Biopolymers

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 July 2022) | Viewed by 9608

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Maximilian Lackner

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/166, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
Interests: polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA); biopolymers; brownfield remediation; polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biopolymers are seeing an increased amount of interest both from the industry and from consumers. Drop-in materials can be used readily, whereas new products require proper application development. Since biopolymers tend to be less temperature-stable than their fossil-based counterparts, processing parameters need to be worked out to avoid degradation. This Special Issue of Polymers addresses biopolymers with regard to (new) applications and their processing. We invite you to submit original research and review articles for the title “Processing and Applications of Biopolymers”, which will contain approximately 10–15 peer-reviewed contributions. These will be published in golden “open access” mode. Both biobased and biodegradable materials are covered, as well as composite materials. Thermosets and elastomers are included, too. Feel free to pass on this invitation. We look forward to your contributions.

Dr. Maximilian Lackner
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

  • polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)
  • biopolymers
  • bioplastics
  • polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)
  • polylactic acid (PLA)
  • thermoplastic starch (TPS)
  • compounds
  • natural fibers
  • extrusion
  • injection moulding
  • blow moulding
  • blown film
  • cast film
  • thermoplastics
  • thermosets
  • elastomers
  • biobased
  • biodegradable

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 3864 KiB  
Article
PHB Processability and Property Improvement with Linear-Chain Polyester Oligomers Used as Plasticizers
by Rogerio Ramos de Sousa Junior, Carlos Alberto Soares dos Santos, Nathalie Minako Ito, Airton Nizetti Suqueira, Maximilian Lackner and Demetrio Jackson dos Santos
Polymers 2022, 14(19), 4197; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14194197 - 06 Oct 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2133
Abstract
In 2021, global petroleum-based plastic production reached over 400 million metric tons (Mt), and the accumulation of these non-biodegradable plastics in the environment is a worldwide concern. Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) offers many advantages over traditional petroleum-based plastics, being biobased, completely biodegradable, and non-toxic. However, [...] Read more.
In 2021, global petroleum-based plastic production reached over 400 million metric tons (Mt), and the accumulation of these non-biodegradable plastics in the environment is a worldwide concern. Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) offers many advantages over traditional petroleum-based plastics, being biobased, completely biodegradable, and non-toxic. However, its production and use are still challenging due to its low deformation capacity and narrow processing window. In this work, two linear-chain polyester oligomers were used as plasticizers to improve the processability and properties of PHB. Thermal analyses, XRD, and polarized optical microscopy were performed to evaluate the plasticizing effect on the PHB and the reflection on the mechanical behavior. Both oligomers acted as PHB plasticizers, with a reduction in Tg and Tm as a function of the plasticizer concentration, which can make it easier to handle the material in thermal processing and reduce the probability of thermal degradation. Plasticizer 2 proved to be the most promising between the two with an optimized condition of 20%, in which there was a decrease in elastic modulus of up to 72% and an increase in the maximum elongation of 467%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Processing and Applications of Biopolymers)
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17 pages, 3108 KiB  
Article
Effect of Thermal Pretreatments on Phosphorylation of Corypha umbraculifera L. Stem Pith Starch: A Comparative Study Using Dry-Heat, Heat-Moisture and Autoclave Treatments
by Basheer Aaliya, Kappat Valiyapeediyekkal Sunooj, Chillapalli Babu Sri Rajkumar, Muhammed Navaf, Plachikkattu Parambil Akhila, Cherakkathodi Sudheesh, Johnsy George and Maximilian Lackner
Polymers 2021, 13(21), 3855; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13213855 - 08 Nov 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2755
Abstract
Talipot starch, a non-conventional starch source with a high yield (76%) from the stem pith of talipot palm (Corypha umbraculifera L.) was subjected to three different thermal treatments (dry-heat, heat-moisture and autoclave treatments) prior to phosphorylation. Upon dual modification of starch with [...] Read more.
Talipot starch, a non-conventional starch source with a high yield (76%) from the stem pith of talipot palm (Corypha umbraculifera L.) was subjected to three different thermal treatments (dry-heat, heat-moisture and autoclave treatments) prior to phosphorylation. Upon dual modification of starch with thermal treatments and phosphorylation, the phosphorous content and degree of crosslinking significantly increased (p ≤ 0.05) and was confirmed by the increased peak intensity of P=O and P–O–C stretching vibrations compared to phosphorylated talipot starch in the FT-IR spectrum. The highest degree of crosslinking (0.00418) was observed in the autoclave pretreated phosphorylated talipot starch sample. Thermal pretreatment remarkably changed the granule morphology by creating fissures and grooves. The amylose content and relative crystallinity of all phosphorylated talipot starches significantly decreased (p ≤ 0.05) due to crosslinking by the formation of phosphodiester bonds, reducing the swelling power of dual-modified starches. Among all modified starches, dry-heat pretreated phosphorylated starch gel showed an improved light transmittance value of 28.4%, indicating reduced retrogradation tendency. Pasting and rheological properties represented that the thermal pretreated phosphorylated starch formed stronger gels that improved thermal and shear resistance. Autoclave treatment before phosphorylation of talipot starch showed the highest resistant starch content of 48.08%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Processing and Applications of Biopolymers)
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17 pages, 5762 KiB  
Article
Sunscreen Enhancement of Octyl Methoxycinnamate Microcapsules by Using Two Biopolymers as Wall Materials
by Chuntao Xu, Xuemin Zeng, Zujin Yang and Hongbing Ji
Polymers 2021, 13(6), 866; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13060866 - 11 Mar 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3595
Abstract
Octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC) is widely used as a chemical sunscreen in sunscreen cosmetics. However, its direct contact with the skin would bring certain risks, such as skin photosensitive reaction. How to improve the effect of skin photodamage protection has become a current research [...] Read more.
Octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC) is widely used as a chemical sunscreen in sunscreen cosmetics. However, its direct contact with the skin would bring certain risks, such as skin photosensitive reaction. How to improve the effect of skin photodamage protection has become a current research hotspot. Encapsulating ultraviolet (UV) filters into microcapsules is an interesting method to increase the photostability of filters. In this study, sodium caseinate (SC) and arabic gum (GA) are chosen as wall materials to prepare synergistic sunscreen microcapsules by complex coacervation technology. A series of experiments are conducted to investigate the effects of pH, wall material concentration, and wall/core ratio on the formation of OMC microcapsules. The morphology, composition, and stability of OMC microcapsules are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The OMC microcapsule is uniform in size distribution, smooth in surface morphology, and has good thermal stability. The results show that the ultraviolet absorption of the OMC microcapsules is better than that of the uncoated OMC for the ultraviolet-B (280–320 nm). Moreover, the OMC microcapsule released 40% in 12 h, while OMC released 65%, but the sun protection factor (SPF) of the OMC microcapsule sunscreen is 18.75% higher than that of OMC. This phenomenon may be attributed to the hydrophobic interaction between SC and OMC and the electrostatic interaction between SC and GA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Processing and Applications of Biopolymers)
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