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Screw pine root fibers are engineering fibers that have yet to be explored in terms of its chemistry with bio-rcsin in biodegradable composites to replace nonbiodegradable thermoplastics used in packaging, automobiles, furniture, and industrial sectors. Screw pine root fibers are reinforced with soy, polyvinyl alcohol), and soy-poly(vinyl alcohol) resin systems in this work to create a variety of compositcs. Composites demonstrated highest amount of tensile strength at around 39.7 MPa, 37.6 MPa of flexural property, along with an impact strength around 12.4 kJ/[m.sup.2]. The thermal solidity of the optimized materiai was determined to be 235:C. After 24 hours of immersion, the composite had the lowest water absorption of 18.4%. All composites were shown to be biodegradable, losing about 54.2%-72.9% of their original mass after 60 days in soil burial. Unique characteristics such as the use of low-cost agricultural materials, water-based resin, stable composite, and properties such as moderately strong, safe disposal after serv ice periods make these manufactured composites market feasible as consumer-friendlv/ecofriendly green products. Highlights * Screw pine root fibers were extracted from waste roots and used as reinforcement. * The tensile strength of the composite was achieved as 39.7 MPa. * The water absorption of hybrid composite was found 30.8% after 74 h. * After 60 days under soil burial, composite lost 67.5% of its original weight * Developed composites can be good alternant for nondcgradable thermoplastic. KEYWORDS biocomposite, green composite, polyvinyl alcohol), screw pine root liber, soy, 1 | INTRODUCTION Polymers are amazingly interconnected with human life in the world of today, supporting and facilitating it. The products we use every day, such as household appliances, packaging [...]

With the issue of plastic waste persisting and the need for more sustainable solutions to the ever‐increasing demand for lightweight and durable plastic products, this review has become imminent and compelling. Poly (butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) is a biodegradable polymer with exceptional film‐forming ability resembling those of low‐density polyethylene. PBAT has a huge advantage for packaging applications due to its remarkably high elongation at break, giving it a good processing window for its application in packaging. However, certain defiant intrinsic properties stand in the way of its full commercialization. The development of blends and biocomposites of PBAT has, therefore, become imperative for complementing its properties and producing a superior material. This paper focuses on the recent developments in preparing PBAT‐based blends and biocomposites with superior mechanical, barrier, and antimicrobial properties and, most importantly, has also investigated how the development of these blends and biocomposites impacts the biodegradation rate of PBAT. It also highlights the possible synthesis of bio‐based PBAT and the commercialization, market trends, and prospects of PBAT‐based materials for flexible, rigid packaging, and other industrial applications compared with biodegradable alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread use of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) from packaging to engineering applications seems to follow the current global trend. The development of high-performance PLA-based blends has led to the commercial introduction of various PLA-based resins with excellent thermomechanical properties. The reason for this is the progress in the field of major PLA limitations such as low thermal resistance and poor impact strength. The main purpose of using biobased polymers in polymer blends is to increase the share of renewable raw materials in the final product rather than its possible biodegradation. However, in the case of engineering applications, the focus is on achieving the required properties rather than maximizing the percentage of biopolymer. The presented review article discusses the current strategies to optimize the balance of the key features such as stiffness, toughness, and heat resistance of PLA-based blends. Improving of these properties requires molecular structural changes, which together with morphology, crystallinity, and the influence of the processing conditions are the main subjects of this article. The latest research in this field clearly indicates the high potential of using PLA-based materials in highly demanding applications. In the case of impact strength modification, it is possible to obtain values close to 800 J/m, which is a value comparable to polycarbonate. Significant improvement can also be confirmed for thermal resistance results, where heat deflection temperatures for selected types of PLA blends can reach even 130 °C after modification. The modification strategies discussed in this article confirm that a properly conducted process of selecting the blend components and the conditions of the processing technique allows for revealing the potential of PLA as an engineering plastic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starch has overtaken the bioplastic market in developing thermoplastic starch-based blends and composite systems owing to its biodegradability and sustainability. Thermoplastic starch (TPS) development is mostly a two-stage process involving plasticizing starch and blending plasticized starch with a polymer. Most of the research focuses on improving the properties of the blend system through different methodologies, including various plasticizers and co-plasticizers. However, limited studies have analyzed the environmental effects of plasticizers or co-plasticizers and their processing. Thus, in this research, the environmental impact of starch plasticization processes performed by co-plasticization (glycerol–urea, glycerol–citric acid, and glycerol–succinic anhydride) and by conventional glycerol-based plasticization is compared through life cycle assessment (LCA). The results showed that glycerol–citric acid- and glycerol–succinic anhydride-based co-plasticization had a comparable environmental impact to traditional glycerol-based plasticization. In contrast, the glycerol–urea-based co-plasticization process exhibited the highest effect on the environment. Furthermore, to reduce the environmental impact, a sensitivity analysis of the plasticization processes was conducted by changing the energy aspect of the processes through quantitative and qualitative approaches. The qualitative approach significantly reduced major impact categories such as global warming, carcinogens, ecotoxicity, and fossil fuel depletion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]