Biodegradable Polymer Blends and Composites from Renewable Resources provides a comprehensive, current overview of biopolymeric blends and composites and their applications in various industries. The book is organized according to the type of blend or composite. For each topic, the relationship between the structure of the blends/composites and their respective properties is explored, with particular focus on interface, compatibility, mechanical, and thermal properties. Real-life applications and potential markets are discussed. This is a premier reference for graduate students and researchers in polymer science, chemical and bio engineering, and materials science.

Long Yu, PhD, is highly regarded in the field of polymer science, with more than twenty-five years of experience in developing and finding new applications for polymeric materials. He is currently working as a research scientist in Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Materials Science and Engineering Division, Australia. He is also a visiting professor at South China University of Technology. Dr. Yu is a Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute.

Learn How to Design Environmentally Friendly Polymer Blends and Composites

Highlighting important new developments and findings, this book explores biodegradable polymer blends and composites from renewable resources and points to their potential markets. Readers will discover how to work with blending and composition formulations to create new, environmentally friendly products with valuable properties.

Following a general introduction, the book is divided into six parts:

• Part I focuses on natural polymer blends developed with melting, aqueous, or reactive blending.

• Part II demonstrates how to improve the thermal properties of aliphatic polymer blends.

• Part III discusses hydrophobic and hydrophilic blends, in particular polyesters and natural polymers.

• Part IV examines composites reinforced with natural fibers.

• Part V introduces the development of nanoclay-reinforced composites, including novel techniques to delaminate clay for use in natural polymers.

• Part VI investigates multilayered systems from renewable resources.

By exploring the relationship between microstructure and properties for each category of blends and composites, the book helps readers design their own materials. In addition to standard techniques, readers learn several innovative, advanced techniques for improving the interfaces between hydrophilic natural polymers and hydrophobic biodegradable polyesters. Readers also learn the latest techniques for analyzing and working with biodegradable nanocomposites.

Combining fundamental science with applications that have either been commercialized or show great promise for commercialization, this book is ideal for material and polymer scientists as well as students who are interested in bringing new environmentally friendly products to market.

1. Polymers from Renewable Resources (L. Yu and L. Chen).

1.1 Introduction.

1.2 Natural Polymers.

1.3 Synthetic Polymers from Natural Monomers.

1.4 Polymers from Microbial Fermentation.

1.5 Summary.

2. Starch - Cellulose Blends (I. S. Arvanitoyannis and A. Kassaveti).

2.1 Introduction.

2.2 Starch and Starch Derivatives.

2.3 Cellulose and Cellulose Derivatives.

2.4 Starch-Cellulose Blends.

2.5 Applications.

3. Starch Sodium Caseinate Blends (I. S. Arvanitoyannis and P. Tserkezou).

3.1 Introduction.

3.2 Starch and Starch Derivatives.

3.3 Sodium Caseinate Derivatives.

3.4 Starch- Sodium Caseinate Blends.

3.5 Applications.

3.6 Comparison between Sodium Caseinate and other Edible films.

4. Novel Plastics and Foams from Starch and Polyurethanes (Y. Lu and L. Tighzert).

4.1 Introduction.

4.2 Starch-Filled Polyurethane Elastomers and Plastics.

4.3 Starch-Filled Polyurethane Foams.

4.4 Starch Grafted with Polyurethanes.

4.5 Thermoplastic Starch/Polyurethane Blends.

4.6 Concluding Remarks.

5. Chitosan Properties and application (N. Soares).

5.1 Sources.

5.1 Structures.

5.2 Application in Food Industry.

5.3 Antimicrobial Property.

5.4 Others Properties.

5.5 Chitosan derivatives .

6. Blends and Composites Based on Cellulose/Natural Polymers (Y. Wang and L. Zhang).

6.1 Introduction.

6.2 Cellulose: Structure and Solvents.

6.3 Cellulose/Natural Polymers Blends.

6.4 Cellulose Derivatives/Natural Polymers Blends.

6.5 Promising Application of Cellulose Blends.

PART II: ALIPHATIC POLYESTER BLENDS.

7. Stereocomplex between Enantiomeric Poly(lactide)s (H. Tsuji and Y. Ikada).

7.1 Introduction.

7.2 Stereocomplex formation.

7.3 Methods for inducing stereocomplexation.

7.4 Physical Properties.

7.5 Biodegradation.

7.6 Applications.

8. Polyhydroxyalkanoates Blends and Composities (G. Q. Chen and Tsinghua).

8.1 Introduction.

8.2 PHA Blended with Starch or Cellulose.

8.3 PHA Blended with PLA.

8.4 PHA Blended with PCL.

8.5 Blending of Different PHA.

8.6 PHA Blending with other Polymers.

8.7 PHA Composites.

PART III: HYDROPHOBIC AND HYDROPHILIC POLYMERIC BLENDS.

9. Starch-Poly(hydroxyalkanoate) Composites and Blends (R. Shogren).

9.1 Summary of starch, PHA structure and properties.

9.2 Why blend starch with PHA's?.

9.3 Problems with starch-PHA blends.

9.4 Granular starch-PHA composites.

9.5 Gelatinized starch-PHA blends.

9.6 Thermoplastic Starch/PHA Laminates and Foams.

9.7 Biodegradability, Recycling and Sustainability.

9.8 Applications and Production.

9.9 Future Research Needs and Directions.

10. Biodegradable Blends Based on Microbial Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and Natural Chitosan (C. Chen and L. Dong).

10.1 Introduction.

10.2 Preparation and Properties.

10.3 Conclusion.

PART IV: NATURAL FIBER-REINFORCED COMPOSITES.

11. Starch-Cellulose Fibres Composites (A. V'quez and V. Alvarez).

11.1 Introduction.

11.2 Starch Polymer.

11.3 Starch-Cellulose Fibre Composites.

11.4 Starch Based Blends as Polymer Matrix .

11.5 Starch Based Blend/Natural Fibre Composites .

11.6 Conclusion.

12. PLA/Cellulosic Fiber Composites (M. Shibata).

12.1 Introduction.

12.2 PLA/Abaca Composites.

12.3 PLA/Wood Flour Com...