Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

ScCO2-assisted fabrication and compressive property of poly (lactic acid) foam reinforced by in-situ polytetrafluoroethylene fibrils

Researchers developed biodegradable poly(lactic acid) foam reinforced with polytetrafluoroethylene fibrils using supercritical CO2 foaming, achieving a 30% improvement in specific compressive strength and two orders of magnitude increase in storage modulus at 5 wt% PTFE content. The approach improves PLA's typically poor melt strength and slow crystallization, making it a more viable bio-based alternative to petroleum-based plastic foams.

2022 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Fabrication of biodegradable poly (lactic acid)/carbon nanotube nanocomposite foams: Significant improvement on rheological property and foamability

Researchers developed a CO2-based foaming method to fabricate ultra-low-density biodegradable polylactic acid/carbon nanotube nanocomposite foams, finding that even small additions of carbon nanotubes dramatically improved rheological properties and foamability.

2020 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 87 citations
Article Tier 2

Energy absorption and resilience in quasi-static loading of foam-formed cellulose fibre materials

Researchers investigated lightweight foam-formed cellulose fibre materials as potential replacements for fossil-based plastic cushioning in packaging applications. They tested a wide range of material compositions and densities, finding that fibre type and refining significantly influenced energy absorption and resilience during compression. The study demonstrates that cellulose-based foams could provide adequate mechanical protection for packaging while avoiding the microplastic pollution associated with conventional plastic foams.

2024 Cellulose 14 citations
Review Tier 2

A Review on the Modification of Cellulose and Its Applications

This review summarizes recent advances in cellulose modification techniques and applications, including its use as a sustainable alternative to synthetic polymers. The study discusses how modified cellulose materials could help address plastic pollution by providing biodegradable substitutes for conventional plastic products.

2022 Polymers 417 citations
Article Tier 2

Modification of Poly(lactic acid) by the Plasticization for Application in the Packaging Industry

Researchers investigated the modification of poly(lactic acid) through plasticization to improve its mechanical properties for use in packaging industry applications as a biodegradable alternative to conventional plastics.

2021 Polymers 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Renewable cellulosic nanocomposites for food packaging to avoid fossil fuel plastic pollution: a review

Researchers reviewed how cellulose nanoparticles extracted from plant biomass can replace petroleum-based plastics in food packaging, finding that adding just 1–5% cellulose nanoparticles significantly improves strength, reduces oxygen and water vapor permeability, and keeps packaging biodegradable. The review positions cellulose nanocomposites as a scalable, eco-friendly alternative to fossil-fuel plastics that contribute to microplastic pollution.

2020 Environmental Chemistry Letters 222 citations
Article Tier 2

Silicon-infused bacterial cellulose: in situ bioprocessing for tailored strength and surface characteristics

Not relevant to microplastics — this is a materials science study on producing silicon-modified bacterial cellulose for applications requiring tailored surface characteristics and tensile strength.

2024 Cellulose 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of the Incorporation of Nano-Sized Cellulose Formate on the End Quality of Polylactic Acid Composite Film

Researchers found that incorporating nano-sized cellulose formate fillers, including cellulose nanofibrils and nanocrystals, into polylactic acid films significantly improved mechanical strength and barrier properties while maintaining the biodegradable character of the composite, offering a path toward higher-performance sustainable packaging.

2021 Nanomaterials 25 citations
Article Tier 2

PET foaming: development of a new class of rheological additives for improved processability

This paper describes development of rheological additives to improve PET foaming for lightweight packaging, as an alternative to hard-to-recycle foamed polystyrene. Replacing polystyrene foam with more recyclable materials is important for reducing ocean microplastic pollution from packaging waste.

2023 Materials research proceedings
Article Tier 2

Tuning pore size and density of rigid polylactic acid foams through thermally induced phase separation and optimization using response surface methodology

Researchers developed a method for making rigid, porous polylactic acid (PLA) foam — a biodegradable plastic — using a freeze-separation process, then used statistical modeling to optimize pore size and density. By fine-tuning factors like polymer concentration and temperature, they achieved specific foam structures useful for filtration, insulation, or biomedical applications.

2024 Scientific Reports 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Cellulose Nanofibrils Dewatered with Poly(Lactic Acid) for Improved Bio-Polymer Nanocomposite Processing

This paper is not about environmental microplastics; it describes a manufacturing process for combining cellulose nanofibers with polylactic acid (a biodegradable bioplastic) to make stronger composite materials, with no relevance to plastic pollution or human health risk.

2024 Nanomaterials 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Lightweight carbon foam obtained from post-use polyethylene terephthalate bottles, properties, and potential applications

Researchers synthesized lightweight carbon foam from post-consumer PET plastic bottles via a controlled carbonization process, characterizing the foam's physical and chemical properties and exploring its potential as a value-added material from plastic waste recycling.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Valorization of wood pulp to mechanically strong and biodegradable packaging foams by wet foaming process

Researchers developed biodegradable packaging foams from wood pulp and lignin using a wet foaming process, optimizing surfactant concentration and foaming time to achieve densities as low as 0.013 g/cm3 and porosities up to 99.2% as sustainable alternatives to expanded polystyrene.

2024
Article Tier 2

Energy Absorption and Resilience in Quasi-Static Loading of Foam-Formed Cellulose Fibre Materials

Researchers investigated foam-formed cellulose fibre materials as biodegradable replacements for fossil-based plastic cushioning in packaging, testing 129 trial formulations with densities from 21 to 123 kg per cubic meter to characterize quasi-static energy absorption and mechanical resilience properties.

2024 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Cellulose Acetate Microsphere in Cosmetics Application and Sustainability Benefits

Researchers developed biodegradable cellulose acetate microspheres as a sustainable replacement for synthetic microplastic particles in cosmetics, producing smooth spherical particles via thermal phase separation that deliver comparable sensory performance while avoiding persistent plastic pollution in the environment.

2024 Journal of the Society of Powder Technology Japan
Article Tier 2

Acoustic and thermal characterization of a novel sustainable material incorporating recycled microplastic waste

Researchers created a new eco-friendly foam material by embedding recovered marine microplastics into a bio-based matrix, producing an open-cell insulating material with strong acoustic and thermal properties. The innovation offers a potential path to upcycle hard-to-recycle mixed marine plastic waste into useful building and industrial insulation products.

2021 Sustainable materials and technologies 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of different natural plasticizers on Ethyl Cellulose Oleogel bioplastic

Researchers investigated the effect of various natural plasticizers on the mechanical and physical properties of ethyl cellulose oleogel bioplastics, aiming to improve plasticity and processability as a biodegradable, biocompatible alternative to fossil-based packaging plastics.

2025
Article Tier 2

Effect of Matrix Crystallization on Vickers Hardness of Cellulose Fiber / Poly(lactic acid) Composites

This study investigated how crystallization processes affect the hardness of composites made from cellulose nanofibers and polylactic acid, a biodegradable plastic, with implications for replacing conventional fossil-fuel-based plastics.

2023 Kikai Zairyou, Zairyou Kakou Gijutsu Kouenkai kouen rombunshuu/Kikai Zairyo, Zairyo Kako Gijutsu Koenkai koen ronbunshu
Article Tier 2

High-performance biodegradable poly(lactic acid) composites with xylan and lignin copolymer

Researchers developed high-performance biodegradable poly(lactic acid) composites by incorporating xylan and lignin derived from lignocellulosic biomass, improving PLA mechanical properties and addressing its brittleness limitations while maintaining biodegradability as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics.

2025 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Article Tier 2

Effects of microcrystalline cellulose on some performance properties of chitosan aerogels

Researchers developed bio-based aerogels from chitosan reinforced with microcrystalline cellulose, testing their physical and mechanical properties. This work explores sustainable, biodegradable materials that could reduce reliance on conventional petroleum-based plastics.

2021 Maderas Ciencia y tecnología 23 citations
Article Tier 2

A Novel Equivalent Method for Computing Mechanical Properties of Random and Ordered Hyperelastic Cellular Materials

This engineering paper develops a computational method for predicting the mechanical properties of cellular foam materials using equivalent structural models. The study is focused on materials engineering and is unrelated to microplastic research.

2023 Materials 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Potential contribution of nanotechnolgy to the circular economy of plastic materials

This paper reviews how nanotechnology could support a circular plastic economy by improving recycled plastic properties and enabling catalytic breakdown of plastics into reusable monomers. Nano-additives and nano-catalysts are identified as promising tools for shifting plastic management from linear waste to resource recovery.

2020 Acta Innovations 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Application of Spray Coating in the Fabrication of Free Standing Nanocellulose Films and Barrier Coating on the Paper Substrates

Researchers developed cellulose acetate microspheres as a sustainable alternative to synthetic microplastic beads in cosmetics, producing spherical particles with high surface smoothness through polymer thermal phase separation that provide a smooth sensory texture while being biodegradable and environmentally safe.

2024 Scientific and Social Research
Article Tier 2

Analisis Sifat Fisis dan Mekanik Biodegradable Foam Berbahan Dasar Selulosa Jerami Padi dan Polivinyl Alcohol

This paper is not about microplastics — it reports on the physical and mechanical properties of biodegradable foam made from rice straw cellulose and polyvinyl alcohol as a potential alternative to styrofoam, focusing on material science rather than microplastic pollution or health impacts.

2023 Jurnal Fisika Unand