Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Characterization of Composites from Post-Consumer Polypropylene and Oilseed Pomace Fillers

This paper is not relevant to microplastics research; it characterizes wood-plastic composites made from recycled polypropylene and agricultural pomace fillers, evaluating mechanical properties for construction applications rather than addressing plastic pollution.

2024 Polymers 2 citations
Article Tier 2

An Overview on Wood Waste Valorization as Biopolymers and Biocomposites: Definition, Classification, Production, Properties and Applications

This review examines how wood waste can be converted into biopolymers and biocomposites as alternatives to conventional fossil-derived plastics. Researchers discuss the classification, production methods, and properties of these bio-based materials, highlighting their potential to reduce plastic pollution and environmental harm. The study notes that while wood waste-derived bioplastics show promise, processing methods and scalability are still under development.

2022 Polymers 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Properties and Applications of Composites Reinforced with Natural Fibers – a Brief Review

This review examines the properties and applications of natural lignocellulosic fiber-reinforced composites as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic fiber composites. Natural fiber composites are biodegradable alternatives to glass and carbon fiber plastics, which can generate microplastic debris when they break down.

2023 Journal of Engineering Research 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable Polymer-Based Natural Fiber Composites

This review examined biodegradable polymer composites reinforced with natural fibers as alternatives to conventional plastics. Combining biodegradable matrices with plant fibers improved mechanical performance while maintaining degradability and reducing the risk of persistent microplastic contamination. These materials represent a promising direction for sustainable packaging and construction applications.

2022 5 citations
Review Tier 2

Environmental Degradation of Plastic Composites with Natural Fillers—A Review

Researchers examined the environmental degradation of polymer composites containing natural fillers, finding that exposure to outdoor conditions accelerates biodegradation of natural components and alters the mechanical properties of the composite material. The degradation process can generate microplastic fragments as the matrix breaks down.

2020 Polymers 214 citations
Article Tier 2

Changes in Wood Plastic Composite Properties After Natural Weathering and Potential Microplastic Formation

Researchers studied how wood-plastic composite materials break down during two years of outdoor weathering in Latvia. They found that the composites developed surface cracks and chemical changes relatively quickly, with exposed wood particles suggesting the release of microplastic fragments. The findings challenge the perception of wood-plastic composites as environmentally friendly alternatives, since they may contribute to microplastic pollution over time.

2024 Forests 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Properties of wood composite plastics made from predominant Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) plastics and their degradability in nature

Researchers produced wood-plastic composites from low-density polyethylene and wood powder and evaluated their physical properties and natural degradability. The study found that while the materials met mechanical standards, they degraded very slowly in natural environments, underscoring the persistence of LDPE-based products.

2020 PLoS ONE 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Prevention of Biofouling Due to Water Absorption of Natural Fiber Composites in the Aquatic Environment: A Critical Review

This review examines how natural fiber composites used in boats and marine structures absorb water and become damaged by marine organisms over time. While focused on engineering materials rather than health effects, the study is relevant to microplastic research because degrading composite materials in aquatic environments can release plastic particles and chemical additives into the water. Understanding how these materials break down helps identify an often-overlooked source of microplastic pollution in marine environments.

2024 Journal of Composites Science 13 citations
Article Tier 2

A Study of Plant-Filled Polymer Composites Based on Highly Plasticized Polyvinyl Chloride

Not relevant to microplastics — this is a polymer materials study developing plant-filled PVC composites (using spruce flour, birch flour, and rice husk as fillers) to improve the ecological profile of PVC products, with testing of mechanical and thermal properties.

2024 Polymers 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent Progress on Natural Fibers Mixed with CFRP and GFRP: Properties, Characteristics, and Failure Behaviour

This review examined the properties and performance of natural fiber composites hybridized with carbon fiber and glass fiber reinforced polymers, finding that combining natural and synthetic fibers produces lightweight, cost-effective materials with lower environmental impact than pure synthetic composites. The authors identify hybrid bio-composites as a sustainable direction for structural applications currently dominated by fossil-fuel-derived fiber materials.

2022 Polymers 50 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification of microplastics formed during weathering from wood-plastic composites

Scientists found that wood-plastic composite materials (eco-friendly plastics mixed with wood) can release tiny plastic particles called microplastics when they break down from sun and weather exposure. Some products like flowerpots released extremely high amounts of these particles, while others like decking released none at all. This matters because microplastics can potentially harm human health when they get into our environment, water, and food supply.

2026 Figshare
Article Tier 2

A Study of Plant-Filled Polymer Composites Based on Highly Plasticized Polyvinyl Chloride

Not relevant to microplastics — this study characterizes the optical, thermal, and mechanical properties of PVC-based composites filled with plant materials (spruce flour, birch flour, rice husk), exploring eco-friendly construction materials without addressing microplastic pollution.

2024 Preprints.org 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Review of the Green Composite: Importance of Biopolymers, Uses and Challenges

This review examines the growing role of biopolymers and green composites as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional petroleum-based plastics. The authors discuss how natural polymer structures can be engineered into composite materials that perform well while reducing long-term environmental harm. The study highlights both the promise and remaining challenges of scaling biopolymer use to replace traditional plastics that persist in the environment.

2023 Journal of Advanced Research in Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of Eco-Friendly Hemp-Fiber-Reinforced Recycled HDPE Composites

Researchers developed hemp-fiber-reinforced recycled HDPE composites from postconsumer plastic waste, demonstrating that these sustainable biocomposites can serve as eco-friendly alternatives to conventional wood-plastic composite products.

2023 Journal of Composites Science 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of Plastic and Coconut Shell (Cocos nucifera L.) on the Physico-Mechanical Properties of the 8/6 Composite Rafter

Researchers tested composite building materials made from waste plastic and coconut shell as an alternative to conventional wooden rafters in construction. Using plastic waste as a binding material in construction provides a potential pathway for diverting plastic waste from the environment while reducing demand for timber.

2023 Open Journal of Composite Materials
Article Tier 2

Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene Composites with different Reinforced Natural Fibers – A Comparative Study

This is a materials science study comparing the mechanical properties of polypropylene composites reinforced with five different natural plant fibers; it is not a microplastics research paper.

2023 Journal of Ecological Engineering 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Aqueous Dispersions from Wood-Derived Biopolymers for Barrier and Packaging Applications

This thesis explored wood-derived biopolymers as sustainable alternatives to synthetic packaging polymers, examining their structural and barrier properties and their potential to replace polyethylene, PVC, and polystyrene in packaging applications while avoiding microplastic pollution.

2025 Åbo Akademi University Research Portal
Article Tier 2

Performance Spectrum of Home-Compostable Biopolymer Fibers Compared to a Petrochemical Alternative

Researchers compared home-compostable biopolymer fibers to conventional petrochemical alternatives, evaluating their mechanical performance and degradability to assess whether biobased materials can serve as viable substitutes that reduce microplastic pollution.

2023 Polymers 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of Lignin and Polymeric Diphenylmethane Diisocyante Addition on the Properties of Poly(butylene succinate)/Wood Flour Composite

Researchers developed biodegradable composite materials by blending poly(butylene succinate) with wood flour, studying how wood content affects mechanical properties. This biobased material research is relevant to developing plastic alternatives that would reduce long-term microplastic accumulation in the environment.

2019 Polymers 22 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

Nanostructured lignin carriers for efficient flame retardant delivery in natural rubber composites

Not relevant to microplastics — this paper describes using bio-based lignin nanocontainers to deliver a flame retardant in natural rubber composites, improving fire resistance and mechanical properties; it does not address microplastic pollution, environmental contamination, or health effects.

2026 Materials Advances
Article Tier 2

Future Prospects of Biodegradable Natural Fiber Composites: Innovations and Enhanced Performance in Roofing and Packaging Applications

Despite its title referencing sustainable composites and roofing/packaging, this paper studies the development of biodegradable natural fiber composites (from hemp, jute, and flax) as alternatives to synthetic fiber materials — not microplastic pollution research. It examines materials science for sustainable construction and packaging applications and is not directly relevant to microplastic contamination or human health.

2025 International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Bio-Adhesives Combined with Lotus Leaf Fiber to Prepare Bio-Composites for Substituting the Plastic Packaging Materials

Researchers prepared biodegradable composite packaging materials by combining natural bio-adhesives with lotus leaf fiber, testing mechanical and thermal properties. Natural fiber composites offer an alternative to petroleum-based plastic packaging that would not generate persistent microplastic pollution.

2021 JOURNAL OF RENEWABLE MATERIALS 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigation of physical properties of microalgae‐pectin‐based bio‐composite with addition of pine needle for environmental application

This paper is not directly about microplastics — it investigates the physical properties of a bio-composite material made from microalgae, pectin, and pine needles as a potential alternative to petroleum-based plastics, without studying microplastic pollution or environmental impacts.

2024 Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy 2 citations