Guest Editors
Mohammadreza Nofar, Associate Professor, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department, Istanbul Technical University, Turkey
Prof. M. Reza Nofar is an Associate Professor at the Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department at Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey. He obtained his BSc in Materials Science and Engineering from Sharif University of Technology (Tehran-Iran) in 2005 and received his MSc and PhD from Concordia University (Montreal, Canada) and University of Toronto (Toronto, Canada), respectively, in 2008 and 2013 both in Mechanical Engineering.
Prof. Reza Nofar has been the recipient of several international and institutional awards and scholarships. Recently, he was awarded the PPS 2020 Early Career Award by the International Polymer Processing Society (PPS). He was awarded Turkey’s 2017 Young Scientist Award for his achievements in advanced biopolymeric microcellular systems. He was awarded Fonds Québécois de la Recherche sur la Nature et les Technologies (FQRNT) in 2015 from the Quebec government for his postdoctoral studies. He had also been awarded three prestigious scholarships for his doctoral program, namely Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) - Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship, Fonds Québécois de la Recherche sur la Nature et les Technologies (FQRNT), and Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology.
Dr. Nofar’s research interests are polymer processing and rheology, biopolymers and polylactide, polymer blends and nanocomposites, and microcellular polymer foams. Dr. Nofar has contributed his research output as one authored book entitled “Polylactide Foams: Fundamentals, Manufacturing, and Applications” that was published by Elsevier, 3 book chapters, 3 patents, and over 60 refereed journal articles, 4 of which are comprehensive review articles on PLA foaming, PLA blends, Rheology of PLA-based systems, and PLA cellulose nanocomposites.
Summary
Poly (lactic acid) or polylactide (PLA) is a well-developed commercial biobased, biodegradable, biocompatible, compostable and non-toxic biopolymer that has competitive material and processing costs and desirable mechanical and physical properties. This biopolymer can highly be considered as a promising substitute for petroleum-based polymers in a wide range of commodity and engineering applications such as film and packaging, textile and fiber, construction and automotive industries. It could also be widely used in biomedical applications such as tissue engineering, scaffolding, drug delivery, blood vessels, and biosensors. Advanced manufacturing and the development of multifunctional PLA based systems has also been of great interest of the researchers to introduce smart and light weight functional structures. With the high potential of using PLA in wide range of applications, the development of PLA based biopolymeric systems for commodity, engineering, and biomedical applications is essential by solving its series of drawbacks which limit its production and usage. The overall goal of this special issue is to collect recent outstanding works in the field. Potential topics of interest for this SI include but not limited to the following:
• PLA based systems with focus on commodity applications
• Biodegradation behavior of PLA based compounds
• PLA based multiphase blends and composites
• Multifunctional PLA based structures
• Cellular and microcellular PLA based foams
• Enhancements in rheological properties and processing ability of PLA based compounds
• Crystallization and thermal analysis of PLA based products
• Stereocomplex crystallization in PLA with enhanced properties
• Advanced manufacturing of PLA based structures
• Fiber spinning and electrospinning of PLA based systems
• PLA based smart materials and biosensors
• PLA based biopolymers for biomedical applications
Keywords
Poly (lactic acid), polylactide, PLA, biobased, biodegradable, biopolymer
Published Papers
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Open Access
ARTICLE
Preparation and Performance of Pueraria lobata Root Powder/Polylactic Acid Composite Films
Shuang Zhao, Shenglan Chen, Shuan Ren, Gang Li, Ke Song, Jie Guo, Shima Liu, Jian He, Xianwu Zhou
Journal of Renewable Materials, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.026066
（This article belongs to this Special Issue:
Polylactide Based Biopolymeric Systems)
Abstract Petroleum-based materials, such as plastic, are characterized by adverse environmental pollution; as a result,
researchers have sought alternative degradable plastics that are environmentally friendly, such as polylactic acid
(PLA). PLA has shown great potential to replace petroleum-based plastics. In this study, seven different samples
of unmodified
Pueraria lobata root powder (PRP) with different contents (i.e., 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 wt%)
and three different modified PRPs (i.e., treated with NaOH, NaOH-KH-550, and Formic) were used to reinforce
polylactic acid (PLA) via solution casting process. These prepared PRP/PLA composite films were characterized
using SEM, FTIR, UV-visible spectra analysis,…
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Open Access
ARTICLE
Study of Thermal, Phase Morphological and Mechanical Properties of Poly(L-lactide)-b-Poly(ethylene glycol)-b-Poly(L-lactide)/Poly(ethylene glycol) Blend Bioplastics
Yodthong Baimark, Theeraphol Phromsopha
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.4, pp. 1881-1894, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.025400
（This article belongs to this Special Issue:
Polylactide Based Biopolymeric Systems)
Abstract A poly(L-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(L-lactide)(PLLA-PEG-PLLA) block copolymer has great potential for use as a flexible bioplastic. Highly flexible bioplastics are required for flexible packaging applications. In
this work, a PEG was incorporated into block copolymer as a plasticizer by solvent casting. PLLA-PEG-PLLA/
PEG blends with different blend ratios were prepared, and the plasticizing effect and miscibility of PEG in block
copolymer were intensively investigated compared to PLLA/PEG blends. The results indicated that the PEG was
an effective plasticizer for the block copolymer. The blending of PEG decreased glass-transition temperature and
accelerated the crystallization of both the PLLA and PLLA-PEG-PLLA matrices. The PEG…
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Graphic Abstract
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Open Access
ARTICLE
Fully Bio-Based Composites of Poly (Lactic Acid) Reinforced with Cellulose-Graft-Poly-(ε-Caprolactone) Copolymers
Chengtao Gao, Yang Wu, Haibo Xie
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.3, pp. 1137-1152, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2022.021473
（This article belongs to this Special Issue:
Polylactide Based Biopolymeric Systems)
Abstract Due to the increasing demand for modified polylactide (PLA) meeting “double green” criteria, the research on sustainable plasticizers for PLA has attracted broad attentions. This study reported an open-ring polymerization method to fabricate cellulose (MCC)-g-PCL (poly (ε-caprolactone)) copolymers with a fully sustainable and biodegradable component. MCC-g-PCL copolymers were synthesized, characterized, and used as green plasticizers for the PLA toughening. The results indicated that the MCC-g-PCL derivatives play an important role in the compatibility, crystallization, and toughening of the PLA/MCC-g-PCL composites. The mechanical properties of the fully bio-based PLA/MCC-g-PCL composites were optimized by adding 15 wt% MCC-g-PCL, that is, the elongation… More >
Graphic Abstract
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Open Access
ARTICLE
Lactoferrin-Conjugated Polylactic Acid Nanobubbles Encapsulated Perfluoropentane as a Contrast Agent for Ultrasound/Magnetic Resonance Dual-Modality Imaging
Liqiong Ding, Pingsheng Li, Liu He, Fengnan Xu, Jieqiong Ding, Binhua Luo
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.10, No.3, pp. 767-780, 2022, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2022.016903
（This article belongs to this Special Issue:
Polylactide Based Biopolymeric Systems)
Abstract The development of contrast agents that can be activated by multiple modes is of great significance for tumor diagnosis. In this study, the lactoferrin (Lf)-conjugated polylactic acid (PLLA) nanobubbles (Lf-PLLA NBs) were used to encapsulate liquid perfluoropentane (PFP) with the double emulsion method, creating PFP loaded (PFP/Lf-PLLA) NBs for the ultrasound/magnetic resonance dual-modality imaging of subcutaneous tumor. The particle diameter and stability of nanobubbles were investigated by photon correlation spectroscopy. The biocompatibility of nanobubbles was preliminarily evaluated by cell proliferation and migration assay, hemolysis rate, and blood biochemistry analysis. A B-mode clinical ultrasound real-time imaging system was used to perform…
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Open Access
ARTICLE
Effect of Mixing Strategy on the Structure-Properties of the PLA/PBAT Blends Incorporated with CNC
Deniz Sema Sarul, Dogan Arslan, Emre Vatansever, Yusuf Kahraman, Ali Durmus, Reza Salehiyan, Mohammadreza Nofar
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.10, No.1, pp. 149-164, 2022, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2022.017003
（This article belongs to this Special Issue:
Polylactide Based Biopolymeric Systems)
Abstract Polylactide (PLA)/poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) blend nanocomposites including 3 wt% of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were prepared by melt compounding method in a twin-screw extruder and an internal mixer. Blend nanocomposites were formulated by diluting three different masterbatches prepared by solution casting method that contained 7 wt% of CNC. These masterbatches were: (m1) PLA/PBAT/CNC masterbatch; (m2) PLA/CNC masterbatch; and (m3) PBAT/CNC masterbatch. These were to explore how different preparation methods affect the dispersion and localization of CNC and hence the properties of PLA/PBAT/CNC blend nanocomposites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the structural changes of the blends. Rheological properties…
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Open Access
ARTICLE
Improvement in the Performance of the Polylactic Acid Composites by Using Deep Eutectic Solvent Treated Pulp Fiber
Lei Tan, Liangxian Liu, Chaodong Liu, Weihong Wang
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.11, pp. 1897-1911, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.016418
（This article belongs to this Special Issue:
Polylactide Based Biopolymeric Systems)
Abstract As the most favorable alternative to petroleum-based polymers, polylactic acid (PLA) which is the most promising
degradable polymer has attracted increasing attention. However, the addition of cellulose to improve its strength
often results in a reduction in its toughness. In this work, microscale cellulose is first prepared from pulp fibers
by using a deep eutectic solvent, and then is used as the reinforcement of PLA. A microcrystalline cellulose
(MCC)/PLA sheet with uniform texture is obtained by the solution mixing, melt blending, hot-pressing and
cold-pressing process. The effects of MCC on the crystallization, thermal stability and mechanical properties
of the PLA…
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Open Access
ARTICLE
Effects of Selected Printing Parameters on the Fire Properties of 3D-Printed Neat Polylactic Acid (PLA) and Wood/PLA Composites
Nataša Knez, Mirko Kariž, Friderik Knez, Nadir Ayrilmis, Manja Kitek Kuzman
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.11, pp. 1883-1895, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.016128
（This article belongs to this Special Issue:
Polylactide Based Biopolymeric Systems)
Abstract The effects of selected printing parameters on the fire properties of additively produced composites from neat
polylactic acid (PLA) and wood/PLA filaments were investigated. The reaction to fire of the 3D-printed specimens
was tested according to the ISO 5660-1 cone calorimeter test method. The results showed that the properties of
the specimens when exposed to fire were significantly affected by the incorporation of wood flour into the PLA
filament. It was also interesting that PLA specimens had much better reactions to fire than the wood/PLA specimens. Time to ignition was found to be much longer in the 3D-printed PLA specimens.…
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Open Access
ARTICLE
Amorphous Polylactide Bead Foam–Effect of Talc and Chain Extension on Foaming Behavior and Compression Properties
Christian Brütting, Julia Dreier, Christian Bonten, Volker Altstädt, Holger Ruckdäschel
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.11, pp. 1859-1868, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.016244
（This article belongs to this Special Issue:
Polylactide Based Biopolymeric Systems)
Abstract Polylactide (PLA) bead foams show a high potential regarding their applicability in packaging or consumer products. Concerning the comparable properties of PLA to Polystyrene (PS) and the good CO
2 footprint it represents
a potential alternative to petroleum-based polymer foams. However, foaming of PLA is challenging, due to its low
melt strength, therefore chemical modifiers are often used. Concerning the bead foam technology regarding PLA,
the available literature is limited so far. Within this study, the bead foaming behavior of neat and modified amorphous PLA was investigated. The material was modified by talc and an epoxy-based chain extender. These compounds have…
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Open Access
ARTICLE
Improving Polylactide Toughness by Plasticizing with Low Molecular Weight Polylactide-Poly(Butylene Succinate) Copolymer
Yottha Srithep, Onpreeya Veang-in, Dutchanee Pholharn, Lih-Sheng Turng, John Morris
Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.7, pp. 1267-1281, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.015604
（This article belongs to this Special Issue:
Polylactide Based Biopolymeric Systems)
Abstract A low-molecular-weight polylactide-poly(butylene succinate) (PLA-PBS) copolymer was synthesized and incorporated into polylactide (PLA) as a novel toughening agent by solvent casting. The copolymer had the same chemical structure and function as PLA and it was used as a plasticizer to PLA. The copolymer was blended with PLA at a weight ratio from 2 to 10 wt%. Phase separation between PLA and PLA-PBS was not observed from their scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and the crystal structure of PLA almost remained unchanged based on the X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement. The melt flow index (MFI) of the blends was higher as the…
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