Title: Development and characterisation of bio-based and bio-degradable composites with improved antimicrobial properties
Growing population in our limited natural resources world puts great stress on the global ecosystem. To tackle this challenge, considerable efforts are devoted in respects of substitution of fossil-based materials with counterparts from renewable resources. This problem is especially sensitive considering growing use of fossil-based polymers in almost every sector of national economy. Consequently, considerable part of research in the Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology of Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology at Riga Technical University is devoted to bio-based and biodegradable materials sector.
The current review is focused on the most recent achievements in the field of polybutylene succinate (PBS) based composites with improved antimicrobial and other exploitation properties. Especial attention is paid on the aspects of thermoplastic compounding of PBS and its copolymer (PBSA) with different chitosan types (low-molecular mass chitosan, high-molecular mass chitosan, chitosan oligosaccharide, obtained from different biomass sources (mushrooms and crustaceans)). Attention is also devoted to characterization of morphological, mechanical, thermal and barrier properties of the developed antimicrobial composites and their hybrids with nanoclay. Apart from a number of potential applications of the developed binary and hybrid systems, particular attention is focused on it use in packaging materials sector.
