Degradable Materials

This book addresses the fields of biodegradation, environmental degradation, and photochemical degradation. The purpose of the book is to establish guidelines for terminology, nomenclature, characterization techniques and methodology, mechanisms of degradation, standard reference materials, and issues and needs. This is the first scientific book of this nature based on the findings of the world's leading scientists (academic, industrial, and federal) in this field. Hard data is presented and soft data is identified under issues and needs. New areas covered are such topics as: biodegradation with in vivo applications, environmental degradation, including anaerobic, aerobic, characterization techniques and methodology, photochemical degradation, and secondary issues associated with degradation. This publication contains information vital to environmental scientists and engineers, biomaterials scientists, pharmaceutical technologists, and chemists.

Environmentally Degradable Materials (EDPs) should replace petroleum-based plastics where recycling is not viable for logistic or labor cost reason. This book discusses the general background of obtaining such systems, compatibilization methodologies, control of the rate of degradation and final products after degradation, life time assessment, toxicological aspects, applications and market aspects. This book is a complete guide to the subject of biodegradable materials based on multi-component polymeric systems, mainly such as hydrogels, and interpenetrating polymeric networks. This book is a complete guide to the subject of biodegradable materials based on multicomponent polymeric systems such as mainly hydrogels, interpenetrating polymeric networks.

BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS Biodegradable materials have ascended in importance in recent years and this book comprehensively discusses all facets and applications in 29 chapters making it a one-stop shop. Biodegradable materials have today become more compulsory because of increased environmental concerns and the growing demand for polymeric and plastic materials. Despite our sincere efforts to recycle used plastic materials, they ultimately tend to enter the oceans, which has led to grave pollution. It is necessary, therefore, to ensure that these wastes do not produce any hazards in the future. This has made an urgency to replace the synthetic material with green material in almost all possible areas of application. Biodegradable Materials and Their Applications covers a wide range of subjects and approaches, starting with an introduction to biodegradable material applications. Chapters focus on the development of various types of biodegradable materials with their applications in electronics, medicine, packaging, thermoelectric generations, protective equipment, films/coatings, 3D printing, disposable bioplastics, agriculture, and other commercial sectors. In biomedical applications, their use in the advancement of therapeutic devices like temporary implants, tissue engineering, and drug delivery vehicles are summarized. Audience Materials scientists, environmental and sustainability engineers, and any other researchers and graduate students associated with biodegradable materials.

The emphasis in degradable polymers has changed since the first edition of this book. Biomedical and agricultural applications remain important topics of scientific and commercial interest in the second edition. However, an increased emphasis on composting as a means of recovering value from wastes has led to a new impetus to understand how plastics degrade in the environment and the implication of this for international standards. Polymers based on renewable resources are also a major topic in this edition but the debate continues about their long-term sustainability and ecological advantages over degradable man-made polymers. Degradable Polymers will be of interest not only to academic and industrial scientists working on packaging, agricultural and medical applications of plastics but also to students of environmental science and legislators concerned with the effects of man-made materials in the environment.

This book is an excellent guide to biobased and biodegradable polymeric materials. It summarizes current knowledge on polymer degradation mechanisms and provides insight into recent, state of the art syntheses of (bio)degradable polymers. The book captures the shift that is currently observed in polymer industries, which takes the industry from a strict petroleum-based business to an industry that starts to incorporate biobased raw materials and seeks actively to manufacture materials that are environmentally benign. The book describes various aspects of current polymer research with special emphasis on natural polymers, syntheses and modifications of polyesters and characterization technologies that allow to elucidate degradation mechanisms. The understanding of polymer degradation is not limited anymore to hydrolytic processes, this book captures new approaches to the degradation of plastic materials ranging from photodegradation to the regulation of genes of polymer-degrading microorganisms. A profound part of the book is dedicated to poly(lactic acid) a polymer that is now produced in large scale from renewable resources, the modification, copolymerization, application and engineering of this material is discussed in detail and a comprehensive review is provided.

Callister's Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction promotes student understanding of the three primary types of materials (metals, ceramics, and polymers) and composites, as well as the relationships that exist between the structural elements of materials and their properties. The 10th edition provides new or updated coverage on a number of topics, including: the Materials Paradigm and Materials Selection Charts, 3D printing and additive manufacturing, biomaterials, recycling issues and the Hall effect.

This book shows how the use of biodegradable plastics in agriculture can have a profound positive impact on plasticulture. Starting with an organic chemistry approach to biodegradable and compostable plastics, both natural and synthetic, it then analyzes the technological and agronomic aspects of existing bioplastics for protected cultivation (mulching, direct cover, low tunnels). It describes the new sprayable biodegradable mulching method, which is based on the use of waterborne polysaccharides and cellulosic fibers. A further chapter describes the research and technology of biodegradable plastics for different agricultural practices. It also includes chapters on life cycle assessment (LCA) of biodegradable plastics for agriculture, and existing and developing standards in the field. It is a valuable resource for agronomists, chemical and materials engineers, polymer technologists and scientists, as well as for a more general readership interested in the application of green chemistry principles to the vast world of crop production. Mario Malinconico is Research Director at the Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, Italy. /p