Advances in Biopolymer Tribology

In the current scenario, biopolymer and biopolymer composites are getting considerable interest in sustainable industrial development. Biopolymers produced from living organisms possess unique molecular and functional properties. The precise 3D structure of biopolymer makes them active molecules that are potentially applied in various industries like pharmaceutical, food, and nutraceutical, etc. The most commonly used biopolymers are chitosan, silk fibroin, poly tetra fluoro ethylene (PTFE), polyacetal (PA), various cross-linked polythenes, and ultra-high molecular weight polythenes (UHMWP). The most successful application of biopolymers may be considered as active materials for biomedical engineering, along with materials for food packaging, water purification, and the packaging sector. The term tribology is associated with the friction and wear properties of certain materials. Industrial advancement with the improvement of the tribological behavior of biopolymer is an emerging area in view of the wide applicability of biopolymer in modern engineering. The present paper will comprise industrially significant biopolymers, their tribological properties concern with efficiency improvement, and sustainable development. Further, it will elaborate on current challenges and future aspects of the tribological study of biopolymers for modern engineering.