Tham khảo tài liệu 'integrated waste management volume i part 11', kỹ thuật - công nghệ, cơ khí - chế tạo máy phục vụ nhu cầu học tập, nghiên cứu và làm việc hiệu quả | 18 Environmental-Friendly Biodegradable Polymers and Composites Bergeret Anne Ecole des Mines d Ales Materials Research Centre France 1. Introduction Global warming the growing awareness of environmental and waste management issues dwindling fossil resources and rising oil prices these are some of the reasons why bio products are increasingly being promoted for sustainable development. Bio products such as starchy and cellulosic polymers have been used for thousands of years for food furniture and clothing. But it is only in the past two decades that bio products have experienced a renaissance with substantial commercial production. For example many old processes have been reinvestigated such as the chemical dehydration of ethanol to produce green ethylene and therefore green polyethylene polyvinylchloride and other plastics. Moreover recent technological breakthroughs have substantially improved the properties of some bio-based polymers such as heat resistant polylactic acid enabling a wider range of applications. In addition plants are being optimized especially to provide bio-fibres with more stable resource properties over time. An increasing number of applications have emerged recently including packaging biomedical products textiles agriculture household use and building where biodegradable polymers and biocomposites are particularly suitable as sustainable alternatives. This chapter begins with a summary of the classification systems for biodegradable polymers and biocomposites then describes specific and innovative developments concerning environmental-friendly biodegradable polymers and composites carried out in recent years based on several case studies - the development of a multi-layered biocomposite based on expanded starch reinforced by natural fibres for food packaging applications - the development of mulching and silage films based on proteins extracted from cotton seeds for agricultural applications - the development of a biocomposite for .
