Chemical-free Reactive Melt Processing of Biosourced Poly(butylene-succinate-adipate) for Improved Mechanical Properties and Recyclability.

Biosourced and biodegradable polyesters like poly(butylene succinate--butylene adipate) (PBSA) are gaining traction as promising alternatives to oil-based thermoplastics for single-use applications. However, the mechanical and rheological properties of PBSA are affected by its thermomechanical sensitivity during its melt processing, also hindering PBSA mechanical recycling. Traditional reactive melt processing (RP) methods use chemical additives to counteract these drawbacks, compromising sustainability.

Hierarchically Structured Hybrid Membranes for Continuous Wastewater Treatment via the Integration of Adsorption and Membrane Ultrafiltration Mechanisms.

Growing environmental concerns are stimulating researchers to develop more and more efficient materials for environmental remediation. Among them, polymer-based hierarchical structures, attained by properly combining certain starting components and processing techniques, represent an emerging trend in materials science and technology. In this work, graphene oxide (GO) and/or carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were integrated at different loading levels into poly (vinyl fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-co-HFP) and then electrospun to construct mats capable of treating water that is contaminated by methylene blue (MB).

Green Composites Based on with Outstanding FDM Printability and Mechanical Performance.

The addition of natural scraps to biodegradable polymers has gained particular interest in recent years, allowing reducing environmental pollution related to traditional plastic. In this work, new composites were fabricated by adding 10% or 20% of (HC) flour to Poly (lactic acid) (PLA). The two formulations were first produced by twin screw extrusion and the obtained filaments were then employed for the fabrication of composites, either for compression molding (CM) or by fused deposition modeling (FDM), and characterized from a morphological and mechanical point of view.

An Overview of Functionalized Graphene Nanomaterials for Advanced Applications.

Interest in the development of graphene-based materials for advanced applications is growing, because of the unique features of such nanomaterials and, above all, of their outstanding versatility, which enables several functionalization pathways that lead to materials with extremely tunable properties and architectures. This review is focused on the careful examination of relationships between synthetic approaches currently used to derivatize graphene, main properties achieved, and target applications proposed. Use of functionalized graphene nanomaterials in six engineering areas (materials with enhanced mechanical and thermal performance, energy, sensors, biomedical, water treatment, and catalysis) was critically reviewed, pointing out the latest advances and potential challenges associated with the application of such materials, with a major focus on the effect that the physicochemical features imparted by functionalization routes exert on the achievement of ultimate properties capable of satisfying or even improving the current demand in each field.

Green Composites Based on PLA and Agricultural or Marine Waste Prepared by FDM.

Three dimensional-printability of green composites is recently growing in importance and interest, especially in the view of feasibility to valorize agricultural and marine waste to attain green fillers capable of reducing bioplastic costs, without compromising their processability and performance from an environmental and mechanical standpoint. In this work, two lignocellulosic fillers, obtained from and , were added to PLA and processed by FDM. Among the 3D printed biocomposites investigated, slight differences could be found in terms of PLA molecular weight and filler aspect ratio.

Flexible mats as promising antimicrobial systems via integration of (L.) essential oil into PLA.

To develop electrospun mats loaded with (L.) essential oil (EO) and to study their morpho-mechanical and antimicrobial properties. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) mats containing EO were prepared by electrospinning.

The Effects of Nanoclay on the Mechanical Properties, Carvacrol Release and Degradation of a PLA/PBAT Blend.

The formulation of polymeric films endowed with the abilities of controlled release of antimicrobials and biodegradability is the latest trend of food packaging. Biodegradable polymer (Bio-Flex)-based nanocomposites containing carvacrol as an antimicrobial agent, and a nanoclay as a filler, were processed into blown films. The presence of such hybrid loading, while not affecting the overall filmability of the neat matrix, led to enhanced mechanical properties, with relative increments up to +70% and +200% in terms of elastic modulus and elongation at break.

Poly(lactic acid)/carvacrol-based materials: preparation, physicochemical properties, and antimicrobial activity.

The current demand for new antimicrobial systems has stimulated research for the development of poly(lactic acid)/carvacrol (PLA/CAR)-based materials able to hinder the growth and spread of microorganisms. The eco-friendly characteristics of PLA and cytocompatibility make it very promising in the perspective of green chemistry applications as material for food and biomedical employments. The broad-spectrum biological and pharmacological properties of CAR, including antimicrobial activity, make it an interesting bioactive molecule that can be easily compounded with PLA by adopting the same techniques as those commonly used for PLA manufacturing.

Influence of Oxidation Level of Graphene Oxide on the Mechanical Performance and Photo-Oxidation Resistance of a Polyamide 6.

The aim of this work is to study the relationship between the chemical-physical properties of graphene oxide (GO) and the performance of a polyamide 6 (PA6) in terms of mechanical reinforcement and resistance to UV-exposure. For this purpose, two samples of GO possessing different oxidation degrees were added (0.75 wt.

Degradation and Recycling of Films Based on Biodegradable Polymers: A Short Review.

The environmental performance of biodegradable materials has attracted attention from the academic and the industrial research over the recent years. Currently, degradation behavior and possible recyclability features, as well as actual recycling paths of such systems, are crucial to give them both durability and eco-sustainability. This paper presents a review of the degradation behaviour of biodegradable polymers and related composites, with particular concern for multi-layer films.

Nanocarbons in Electrospun Polymeric Nanomats for Tissue Engineering: A Review.

Electrospinning is a versatile process technology, exploited for the production of fibers with varying diameters, ranging from nano- to micro-scale, particularly useful for a wide range of applications. Among these, tissue engineering is particularly relevant to this technology since electrospun fibers offer topological structure features similar to the native extracellular matrix, thus providing an excellent environment for the growth of cells and tissues. Recently, nanocarbons have been emerging as promising fillers for biopolymeric nanofibrous scaffolds.

Development of polymeric functionally graded scaffolds: a brief review.

Over recent years, there has been a growing interest in multilayer scaffolds fabrication approaches. In fact, functionally graded scaffolds (FGSs) provide biological and mechanical functions potentially similar to those of native tissues. Based on the final application of the scaffold, there are different properties (physical, mechanical, biochemical, etc.

A Facile and Eco-friendly Route to Fabricate Poly(Lactic Acid) Scaffolds with Graded Pore Size.

Over the recent years, functionally graded scaffolds (FGS) gaineda crucial role for manufacturing of devices for tissue engineering. The importance of this new field of biomaterials research is due to the necessity to develop implants capable of mimicking the complex functionality of the various tissues, including a continuous change from one structure or composition to another. In this latter context, one topic of main interest concerns the design of appropriate scaffolds for bone-cartilage interface tissue.

Incorporation of an antibiotic in poly(lactic acid) and polypropylene by melt processing.

Purpose: In this work an antibiotic, ciprofloxacin (CFX), was incorporated into 2 different polymeric matrices, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and polypropylene (PP), to provide them with antimicrobial properties. The influence of CFX content on release kinetics and on antimicrobial and mechanical properties was evaluated.

Methods: CFX was incorporated into both the polymers by melt mixing.

Effect of Graphene Nanoplatelets on the Physical and Antimicrobial Properties of Biopolymer-Based Nanocomposites.

In this work, biopolymer-based nanocomposites with antimicrobial properties were prepared via melt-compounding. In particular, graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) as fillers and an antibiotic, , ciprofloxacin (CFX), as biocide were incorporated in a commercial biodegradable polymer blend of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and a copolyester (BioFlex). The prepared materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and rheological and mechanical measurements.