Biobased polymeric materials

Considering the demand and applications of biodegradable polymers, the shortage of landfill availability and petroleum resources and CO2 neutrality, development of polymeric materials from renewable resources has revived research interests around the world. Table 20.1 shows the global projection for materials demand in a business-as-usuar scenario (Chateau et al. 2005 Lysen 2001). It can be understood that the portion of biobased polymeric materials has to be increased according to the projected materials demand and considering the environmental balance. 

Different kinds of biobased polymeric materials are available all around the globe. These biobased materials are procured from different biorenewable resources. Chapters 2-10 primarily focus on the use of different types of lignocellulosic fiber-reinforced composites, starting from wood fibers to hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer composites. Chapter 3 summarizes some of the recent research on different lignocellulosic fiber-reinforced polymer composites in the Southeast region of the world, while Chapter 6 summarizes the research on some typical Brazilian lignocellulosic fiber composites. The polymers obtained from biopolymers are frequently referred to as biobased... 

From the reported results, we may conclude that saccharides, polysaccharides, and lignins can be used as useful components of biobased polymeric materials such as poly(e-caprolactone) and polyurethanes. Saccharides and lignins efficiently act as hard segments in the above polymers. It is possible to control the flexibility and stiffness of the prepared... 

OkudaT, Ishimoto K, Ohara H, Kobayashi S (2012) Renewable biobased polymeric materials facile synthesis of itaconic anhydride-based copolymers with poly(L-lactic acid) grafts. Macromolecules 45 4166-4174... 

---