Papers

61,005 results
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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

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

Mechanical properties of fibre/ filler based poly(Lactic Acid) (Pla) composites : A brief review

This review examines the mechanical properties of polylactic acid (PLA)-based composites reinforced with natural fibers and fillers, presenting PLA as a biodegradable alternative to conventional plastics in applications ranging from agriculture to biomedical devices. Improving the strength and durability of bio-based plastics is essential for replacing petroleum-based materials that generate persistent microplastic pollution.

2021 Acta Innovations 12 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

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

Crystallization behaviors of chain extended poly (lactic acid) modified with ST‐NAB3 and its improvement for mechanical and thermal properties

Researchers modified poly(lactic acid) — a biodegradable plastic alternative to petroleum-based polymers — to improve its poor crystallization, mechanical strength, and heat resistance by adding a chain extender and nucleating agent. The resulting material performs better under real-world conditions, bringing biodegradable plastics closer to viably replacing conventional plastics that contribute to microplastic pollution.

2024 Journal of Applied Polymer Science 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent Advances in the Investigation of Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) Nanocomposites: Incorporation of Various Nanofillers and their Properties and Applications

This review covers recent advances in poly(lactic acid) or PLA, a compostable bioplastic that could replace fossil-fuel-based plastics. Researchers examined how adding various nanofillers can overcome PLA's limitations, such as low heat resistance and slow crystallization, making it suitable for a wider range of applications. The findings suggest that PLA nanocomposites represent a viable path toward reducing reliance on conventional plastics across multiple industries.

2023 Polymers 210 citations
Article Tier 2

Aging Process of Biocomposites with the PLA Matrix Modified with Different Types of Cellulose

Researchers prepared polylactic acid composites with three different cellulose-based fillers and studied how they age under UV light exposure. The study found that the type of cellulose additive plays a crucial role in how well the material resists UV degradation, with some forms improving both mechanical properties and degradation timing. These findings support the potential of biodegradable polymer composites as alternatives to conventional plastics that generate persistent microplastic waste.

2023 Materials 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Crystallization behaviors of chain extended poly (lactic acid) modified with ST-NAB3 and its improved mechanical and thermal properties

Researchers modified poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with a styrene-acrylonitrile-glycidyl methacrylate chain extender (SAG) and an octamethylenedicarboxylic dibenzoylhydrazide nucleating agent (ST-NAB3) to improve its crystallization, mechanical properties, and thermal resistance as a biodegradable alternative to petroleum-based single-use plastics. The modifications significantly enhanced PLA crystallinity and mechanical performance, supporting its use in disposable packaging and tableware applications.

2024 Research Square (Research Square)
Systematic Review Tier 1

Cellulose-Reinforced Polylactic Acid Composites for Three-Dimensional Printing Using Polyethylene Glycol as an Additive: A Comprehensive Review

This comprehensive review examined how cellulose-reinforced polylactic acid composites with polyethylene glycol additives can be used for 3D printing as biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. The research found that these bio-based materials show promise for reducing plastic waste, though challenges remain in matching the mechanical properties of conventional plastics.

2023 Polymers 21 citations
Article Tier 2

About the transformation of low Tm into high Tm poly(l-lactide)s by annealing under the influence of transesterification catalysts

Researchers studied how polylactic acid (PLA) crystals transform into higher-melting forms during heating with catalysts. Understanding the crystallization behavior of biodegradable PLA plastics is important for designing materials that degrade more effectively in the environment.

2021 RSC Advances 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanofibrilation of alkali-pretreated cellulose fiber using grinding treatment

This study investigated how strong alkali pretreatment affects the production of cellulose nanofibrils through mechanical grinding, finding it shifts cellulose crystal structure and removes hemicellulose. The resulting cellulose nanofibrils are promising as biodegradable, high-performance replacements for petroleum-based materials in packaging and composites.

2023 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Drying of the Natural Fibers as A Solvent-Free Way to Improve the Cellulose-Filled Polymer Composite Performance

This materials science paper describes how thermal drying of cellulose fibers improves their performance as fillers in polymer composites. Developing stronger plant-fiber composites is part of the broader effort to create biodegradable plastic alternatives that do not generate persistent microplastic pollution.

2020 Polymers 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of Fully Biodegradable PLA/PHB Blend Filled with Microcrystalline Celluloses

Researchers developed biodegradable biocomposites from PLA/PHB polymer blends reinforced with microcrystalline cellulose, finding that adding up to 4 wt% cellulose improved material properties, while higher loadings at 7 wt% reduced crystallinity and thermal stability due to filler aggregation.

2023 Materials Research 7 citations
Review Tier 2

Polyhydroxybutyrate: a review of experimental and simulation studies of the effect of fillers on crystallinity and mechanical properties

This review covers experimental and simulation studies on how various fillers affect the crystallinity and mechanical properties of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a biodegradable polymer candidate for replacing petroleum-based food packaging plastics. The authors synthesize findings on filler types, loading levels, and processing conditions that optimize the balance between biodegradability and structural performance.

2022 Polymer International 50 citations
Article Tier 2

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) Nanocomposites with Cellulose Nanocrystals

This review examined poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/cellulose nanocrystal nanocomposites as biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, covering preparation routes and how cellulose nanocrystals improve thermal stability, mechanical strength, and barrier properties. The authors concluded that using low-value biomass feedstocks to produce both components could support a viable circular bio-based economy for sustainable packaging.

2022 Polymers 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Microstructure and performance evolution of poly (l-lactic acid) during physical aging: Determinable role of molding method on β-relaxation

Researchers investigated how the manufacturing method of poly(L-lactic acid) — a biodegradable plastic relevant to microplastic pollution reduction — affects its mechanical aging behavior, finding that quenching versus cold-pressing creates different molecular network structures that determine how quickly the material becomes brittle over time.

2025 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of microcrystalline cellulose extracted from walnut and apricots shells on the biodegradability of Poly (lactic acid)

Researchers extracted microcrystalline cellulose from walnut and apricot shells using alkaline treatments combined with hydrogen peroxide bleaching, then prepared composite films with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) at varying ratios and characterized them via FTIR, tensile testing, TGA, DSC, and SEM. The results demonstrated that incorporation of these agricultural waste-derived celluloses modified the biodegradability and thermomechanical properties of PLA composites.

2022 Frontiers in Materials 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Deep insights into biodegradability mechanism and growth cycle adaptability of polylactic acid/hyperbranched cellulose nanocrystal composite mulch

Researchers developed biodegradable polylactic acid mulch films reinforced with hyperbranched cellulose nanocrystals, demonstrating tunable degradation rates under soil burial, seawater, and UV aging conditions alongside enhanced mechanical strength and crop yield — offering a viable petroleum-free alternative to conventional agricultural plastic mulch.

2023 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 24 citations
Article Tier 2

One-Pot Hybridization of Microfibrillated Cellulose and Hydroxyapatite as a Versatile Route to Eco-Friendly Mechanical Materials

Microfibrillated cellulose-hydroxyapatite composites prepared by alkaline co-precipitation and hot-pressing achieved bending strengths of 40–100 MPa and elastic moduli of 4–9 GPa, comparable to engineering plastics, offering a biodegradable eco-friendly structural material alternative.

2024 ACS Omega 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Molecular Dynamics Study on the Effect of Moisture Content on the Mechanical Properties of Amorphous Cellulose

This molecular dynamics study investigated how increasing moisture content weakens the mechanical properties of amorphous cellulose at the molecular level. Understanding this moisture-property relationship is important for developing cellulose-based green materials and biodegradable plastics that could replace conventional synthetic polymers.

2023 Cellulose Chemistry and Technology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Strengthening effect of pea dietary fiber on mechanical properties and degradability of polylactic acid

Researchers incorporated pea dietary fiber into polylactic acid (PLA) plastic to improve its mechanical strength and degradability. Strengthening biodegradable plastics without adding conventional plastic additives is important for developing truly compostable alternatives that don't generate persistent microplastic fragments.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

Effect of molecular weight on the properties and structure of biodegradable Poly-lactic acid melt-blown nonwovens

Researchers produced polylactic acid biodegradable nonwoven fabrics by varying the polymer's molecular weight, finding that lower molecular weight PLA crystallized more readily and formed finer fibers. Higher molecular weight PLA produced thicker, more water-resistant fibers with different mechanical properties.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Networks with Dynamic Covalent Bonds: Synthesis and Characterization

Researchers synthesized a biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) network with dynamic chemical bonds that degrade under environmental conditions, making it a candidate to replace microplastic-generating polyolefins in packaging and agriculture. The study characterizes its thermal and mechanical properties for practical applications.

2023 ACS Applied Polymer Materials 2 citations