Blends of Natural and Synthetic Polymers

Agnieszka Wopowicz, Leon P.B.M. Janssen, Leszek Moscicki 

The loose-fill packaging growth rate is mainly attributable to two factors lack of an effective infrastructure for disposal, and the popularity of air-filled plastics and 

Thermoplastic Starch. Edited by Leon P.B.M. Janssen and Leszek Moscicki 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH Co. KGaA, Weinheim ISBN 978-3-527-32528-3 

There exist an important number of biodegradable polymers (biopolymers) that are derived from both synthetic and natural sources. The utiUzation of agricultural products in plastic applications is considered an interesting way to reduce surplus farm products and to develop non-food applications. 

Most research is focused on the blending of PLS with biodegradable polyesters  

---

Zhang et al. also used a blend of natural and synthetic polymers to try and improve the biocompatibility, mechanical, chemical, and physical properties of tissue engineering scaffolds [42], In this study, the natural polymer, silk fibroin, was selected for biocompatibility, permeability. 

Sionkowska, A. (2011) Current research on the blends of natural and synthetic polymers as new biomaterials review. Prog. Polym. Sci., 36, 1254-1276. 

Hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles are osteoconductive bioactive ceramics that can support bone cell adhesion and proliferation and accelerate bone defects healing. HA is typically added to polymeric nanofibers to increase their mechanical strength. HA, often in the form of needle-like nanoparticles, was electrospun in the presence of synthetic biocompatible and biodegradable polymers such as PLA [5, 58-60] and PLA-PEG-PLA [61], natural polymers such as chitosan [62] and collagen [63, 64], and blends of natural and synthetic polymers such as PVA/chitosan [65] and PCL/gelatin [66]. 

Wong et al. (2010) smdied blends of natural and synthetic polymers with the aim of creating biomimetic materials for heart valve leaflets. They examined electrospun gelatin-chitosan PUR, polyglycoUde (PGA)/PLA and collagen-coated bovine pericardium. Ovine endothelial cells were seeded onto these materials and exposed to a range of shear stresses for a period of 1-3 h. 

Present Research on the Blends of Natural and Synthetic Polymers as New Biomaterials... 

In recent years there has been significant interest in the development of materials from blends of natural and synthetic polymers such as PE or EVOH (ethylene-vinyl-alcohol). To maintain the compostabUity feature, different biodegradable blends have been developed. These blends can be processed into useful disposable end products with potential to alleviate disposal problems by degrading in selective environments. The mechanical properties of polymer blends depend greatly on the adhesion of the different phases. Poor interfacial adhesion leads to lower ultimate properties, whereas strong interfadal adhesion leads to good mechanical properties and reduced molecular mobility. 

---