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A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2020) | Viewed by 12652

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. M. Àngels Pèlach

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Guest Editor

LEPAMAP Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, Agriculture and Food Technology,Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
Interests: natural fibers; cellulose reinforced composites; lignocelulosic fibers; lignonanocelluloses

Dr. José Alberto Méndez

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Guest Editor

LEPAMAP Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, Agriculture and Food Technology, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
Interests: biodegradable materials; biomaterials; natural fiber reinforced composites
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the last decade, studies of the negative impacts derived from the use of synthetic fillers and fibers have motivated a convergent policy of health and environmental protection, giving rise to the current tendency to establish new perspectives in research on alternative materials. During the second half of the past century, several research groups have intensified the design, synthesis, characterization, and application of reinforced composites with improved properties as a result of synergetic effects between both components: polymer matrix and reinforcement. Cellulose reinforcements derived from different crops and wood have already been successfully incorporated into polymer matrices, increasing mechanical properties and dimensional stability and providing new and interesting characteristics to the resulting material. One clear example is wood plastic composites (WPCs), which are already at large-scale production and their global market is increasing year by year. Such materials could be used in the building and construction sector, but also in the automotive or others where structural uses are required. Polyolefins have been widely used as polymer matrix, while new bio-based and biodegradable matrices have been gaining importance in recent years.

The aim of this Special Issue is to concentrate knowledge on cellulose polymer composites that can contribute to the transition from oil- and mineral-based materials to biomaterials and biocomposites. Publications related to the incorporation of lignocellulosic fibers into polymer matrices are welcome, especially if alternative lignocellulose sources such as agricultural waste, recycled fibers, or agroforestry residues are considered. In addition, matrices derived from oil could be considered, as well as studies on their potential reusability and recycling, though an especial emphasis will be put into bio-based and biodegradable matrices, included but not limited to polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalcanoates, thermoplastic starch, and others.

Prof. M. Àngels Pèlach
Dr. José Alberto Méndez
Guest Editors

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Keywords

cellulose
lignocellulosic fibers
natural reinforced composites
biocomposites
bio-based matrices

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 3321 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Solution Blowing Spinning Technology towards Green Development of Urea Sensor Nanofibers Immobilized with Hydrazone Probe

by Mohamed H. El-Newehy, Hany El-Hamshary and Waheed M. Salem

Polymers 2021, 13(4), 531; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13040531 - 11 Feb 2021

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 2808

Abstract

Cellulose has been one of the most widespread materials due to its renewability, excellent mechanical properties, biodegradability, high absorption ability, biocompatibility and cheapness. Novel, simple and green colorimetric fibrous film sensor was developed by immobilization of urease enzyme (U) and tricyanofuran hydrazone (TCFH) molecular probe onto cellulose nanofibers (CNF). Cellulose acetate nanofibers (CANF) were firstly prepared from cellulose acetate using the simple, green and low cost solution blowing spinning technology. The produced CANF was exposed to deacetylation to introduce CNF, which was then treated with a mixture of TCFH and urease enzyme to introduce CNF-TCFH-U nanofibrous biosensor. CNF were reinforced with tricyanofuran hyrazone molecular probe and urease enzyme was encapsulated into calcium alginate biopolymer to establish a biocomposite film. This CNF-TCFH-U naked-eye sensor can be applied as a disposable urea detector. CNF demonstrated a large surface area and was utilized as a carrier for TCFH, which is the spectroscopic probe and urease is a catalyst. The biochromic CNF-TCFH-U nanofibrous biosensor responds to an aqueous medium of urea via a visible color signal changing from off-white to dark pink. The morphology of the generated CNF and CNF-TCFH-U nanofibrous films were characterized by different analytical tools, including energy-dispersive X-ray patterns (EDX), polarizing optical microscope (POM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). SEM images of CNF-TCFH-U nanofibers demonstrated diameters between 800 nm and 2.5 μm forming a nonwoven fabric with a homogeneous distribution of TCFH/urease-containing calcium alginate nanoparticles on the surface of CNF. The morphology of the cross-linked calcium alginate nanoparticles was also explored using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to indicate an average diameter of 56–66 nm. The photophysical performance of the prepared CNF-TCFH-U was also studied by CIE Lab coloration parameters. The nanofibrous film biosensor displayed a relatively rapid response time (5–10 min) and a limit of detection as low as 200 ppm and as high as 1400 ppm. Tricyanofuran hydrazone is a pH-responsive disperse dye comprising a hydrazone detection group. Determination of urea occurs through a proton transfer from the hydrazone group to the generated ammonia from the reaction of urea with urease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellulose Polymer Composites)

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21 pages, 5536 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of NaOH Treatment on the Flexural Modulus of Hemp Core Reinforced Composites and on the Intrinsic Flexural Moduli of the Fibers

by Ferran Serra-Parareda, Francesc Xavier Espinach, Maria Àngels Pelach, José Alberto Méndez, Fabiola Vilaseca and Quim Tarrés

Polymers 2020, 12(6), 1428; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12061428 - 26 Jun 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3146

Abstract

This paper describes the potential of using hemp core waste in the composite industry. These lignocellulosic residues can be used to produce environmentally friendly and economically viable composites and improve the overall value chain of hemp production. To this purpose, hemp core residues were alkaline treated at different NaOH concentrations and then mechanically defibrated. Hemp core fibers were mixed with polypropylene and injection molded to obtain testing specimens. The effect of sodium hydroxide on the flexural modulus of composites was studied from macro and micro mechanical viewpoints. Results showed remarkable improvements in the flexural modulus due to the presence of hemp core fibers in the composites. At a 50 wt % of reinforcement content, increments around 239%, 250% and 257% were obtained for composites containing fibers treated at a 5, 7.5 and 10 wt % of NaOH, respectively. These results were comparable to those of wood composites, displaying the potential of hemp core residues. The intrinsic flexural modulus of the hemp core fibers was computed by means of micromechanical analysis and was calculated using the ratios between a fiber flexural modulus factor and a fiber tensile modulus factor. The results agreed with those obtained by using models such as Hirsch and Tsai–Pagano. Other micromechanical parameters were studied to fully understand the contribution of the phases. The relationship between the fibers’ intrinsic flexural and Young’s moduli was studied, and the differences between properties were attributed to stress distribution and materials’ anisotropy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellulose Polymer Composites)

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19 pages, 3647 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High-Yield Lignocellulosic Fibers from Date Palm Biomass as Reinforcement in Polypropylene Composites: Effect of Fiber Treatment on Composite Properties

by Chihaoui Belgacem, Quim Tarres, Francesc Xavier Espinach, Pere Mutjé, Sami Boufi and Marc Delgado-Aguilar

Polymers 2020, 12(6), 1423; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12061423 - 26 Jun 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3263

Abstract

In this work, date palm waste (DPW) stemming from the annual pruning of date palm was used as reinforcing filler in polypropylene (PP) matrix at 40% w/w. Three pre-treatment routes were performed for the DPW, namely (i) defibration, (ii) soft alkali treatment, and (iii) enzymatic treatment, to obtain date palm fibers (DPF) and to investigate the effect of each process on their chemical composition, which will ultimately affect the mechanical properties of the resulting composites. The enzymatic and alkali treatment, combined with maleated polypropylene (MAPP) as a coupling agent, resulted in a composite with higher strength and stiffness than the neat PP. The differences in the reinforcing effect were explained by the change in the morphology of DPF and their chemical surface composition according to the selected treatment of DPW. Enzymatic treatment maximized the tensile strength of the compound as a consequence of an improvement in the interfacial shear strength and the intrinsic resistance of the fibers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellulose Polymer Composites)

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16 pages, 2695 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evolution of Interfacial Shear Strength and Mean Intrinsic Single Strength in Biobased Composites from Bio-Polyethylene and Thermo-Mechanical Pulp-Corn Stover Fibers

by Quim Tarrés and Mònica Ardanuy

Polymers 2020, 12(6), 1308; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12061308 - 8 Jun 2020

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2851

Abstract

In this article, with the aim of promoting sustainability, contributing to the circular economy and the fight against climate change, the production of composite materials from Bio-polyethylene reinforced with corn stover fibers has been studied. The behavior of the materials obtained has been studied experimentally and by mathematical models of micromechanics. The composite materials were produced by extrusion and then injection with from 10 to 50 wt.% of fibers. The creation of a good fiber-matrix interface was studied by the incorporation of coupling agent between (0–8 wt.%). Increase of 131.2% on tensile strength for 40wt.% reinforcement was achieved by adding 6 wt.% of coupling agent. The correct interface was demonstrated by a correlation of 0.99 between the experimental results and the results of the mathematical models used. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellulose Polymer Composites)

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