About this Research Topic
Recently, interest in the development of sustainable bio-based polymers has been rapidly growing owing to the increasing environmental awareness, the depletion and of fossil fuel reserves, and the price fluctuations of these materials. Bio-based polymers have been recognized as the most competitive alternatives to petroleum-derived polymers. Many bio-based polymers are emerging in the fast-growing bio-based industry by more mature technologies of preparing bio-based monomers. The synthesis of bio-based polymers involves the use of natural sources such as vegetable oils, natural acids, lignin, polysaccharides and so forth. Hence, bio-based polymers are becoming increasingly important as highly sustainable, eco-efficient, and biodegradable products.
However, some bio-based polymers have some crucial drawbacks such as poor crystallizability, poor heat resistance and insufficient mechanical properties, compared to commercial petroleum-derived polymers. It is inevitably used some petroleum-derived additives or polymers to improve their properties. Therefore, many research studies have been devoted to use additives or polymers derived from natural sources. Besides, the use of bio-based raw materials as the synthesis of starting monomers is also a strong limit for the development of bio-based polymers. Therefore, new bio-based monomers and synthetic routes of bio-based polymers from such bio-based monomers should be investigated.
In this Research Topic, we will highlight the progress on synthesis, characterization, properties, and applications of bio-based polymers and their blends/composites, with potential topics including (but not limited to) the following:
Design of biobased polymers;
Synthesis of biobased polymers;
Physics of bio-based polymers;
Biomimicry using biobased polymers;
Biodegradability of polymers;
Life cycle assessment;
Bio-based additives for polymers;
Polymer blending;
Processing and performances of bio-based polymers;
Application of bio-based polymers.
However, some bio-based polymers have some crucial drawbacks such as poor crystallizability, poor heat resistance and insufficient mechanical properties, compared to commercial petroleum-derived polymers. It is inevitably used some petroleum-derived additives or polymers to improve their properties. Therefore, many research studies have been devoted to use additives or polymers derived from natural sources. Besides, the use of bio-based raw materials as the synthesis of starting monomers is also a strong limit for the development of bio-based polymers. Therefore, new bio-based monomers and synthetic routes of bio-based polymers from such bio-based monomers should be investigated.
In this Research Topic, we will highlight the progress on synthesis, characterization, properties, and applications of bio-based polymers and their blends/composites, with potential topics including (but not limited to) the following:
Design of biobased polymers;
Synthesis of biobased polymers;
Physics of bio-based polymers;
Biomimicry using biobased polymers;
Biodegradability of polymers;
Life cycle assessment;
Bio-based additives for polymers;
Polymer blending;
Processing and performances of bio-based polymers;
Application of bio-based polymers.
Keywords: Bio-based Polymers, Biodegradable Behaviors, Bio-based composites, Eco-friendly Polymers, Bio-based Additives, Sustainability, Life Cycle Assessment, Polymer Blending, Biodegradability
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
