Biopolymers and Biopolymer Blends Fundamentals, Processes, and Emerging Applications

Biopolymer and Biopolymer Blends: Fundamentals, Processes, and Emerging Applications showcases the potential of biopolymers as alternative sources to conventional nonbiodegradable petroleum-based polymers. It discusses fundamentals of biopolymers and biopolymer blends from natural and synthetic sources, synthesis, and characterization. It also describes development of desired performance for specific applications in 3D printing and other emerging applications in industry, including packaging, pulp and paper, agriculture, biomedical, and marine. Introduces the fundamentals, synthesis, processing, and structural and functional properties of biopolymers and biopolymer blends. Explains the fundamental framework of biopolymer blends in 3D printing, featuring current technologies, printing materials, and commercialization of biopolymers in 3D printing. Reviews emerging applications, including active food packaging, electronic, antimicrobial, environmental, and more. Discusses current challenges and futures prospects. Providing readers with a detailed overview of the latest advances in the field and a wealth of applications, this work will appeal to researchers in materials science and engineering, biotechnology, and related disciplines.