This review aims at reporting on very recent developments in syntheses, properties and (future) applications of polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites. This new type of materials, based on smectite clays usually rendered hydrophobic through ionic exchange of the sodium interlayer cation with an onium cation, may be prepared via various synthetic routes comprising exfoliation adsorption, in situ intercalative polymerization and melt intercalation. The whole range of polymer matrices is covered, i.e. thermoplastics, thermosets and elastomers. Two types of structure may be obtained, namely intercalated nanocomposites where the polymer chains are sandwiched in between silicate layers and exfoliated nanocomposites where the separated, individual silicate layers are more or less uniformly dispersed in the polymer matrix. This new family of materials exhibits enhanced properties at very low filler level, usually inferior to 5 wt.%, such as increased Young’s modulus and storage modulus, increase in thermal stability and gas barrier properties and good flame retardancy.

Polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites: preparation, properties and uses of a new class of materials

http://faculty.wwu.edu/~shulld/ESCI%20101/Andrady2011Plastics.pdf

Microplastics in the marine environment

https://yunus.hacettepe.edu.tr/~damlacetin/kmu407/index_dosyalar/4.%20makale.pdf

Biodegradable polymers as biomaterials

http://faculty.wwu.edu/shulld/esci%20101/Cole2011Plastics.pdf

Microplastics as contaminants in the marine environment: a review.

This review of 68 studies compares the methodologies used for the identification and quantification of microplastics from the marine environment. Three main sampling strategies were identified: selective, volume-reduced, and bulk sampling. Most sediment samples came from sandy beaches at the high tide line, and most seawater samples were taken at the sea surface using neuston nets. Four steps were distinguished during sample processing: density separation, filtration, sieving, and visual sorting of microplastics. Visual sorting was one of the most commonly used methods for the identification of microplastics (using type, shape, degradation stage, and color as criteria). Chemical and physical characteristics (e.g., specific density) were also used. The most reliable method to identify the chemical composition of microplastics is by infrared spectroscopy. Most studies reported that plastic fragments were polyethylene and polypropylene polymers. Units commonly used for abundance estimates are “items per m2” ...

/pdf/microplastics-in-the-marine-environment-a-review-of-the-fg3wzn5tjn.pdf

Microplastics in the Marine Environment: A Review of the Methods Used for Identification and Quantification

Recent Developments in Ring Opening Polymerization of Lactones for Biomedical Applications

From Lactic Acid to Poly(lactic acid) (PLA): Characterization and Analysis of PLA and Its Precursors

The mechanism of biodegradation of polyethylene

The synthesis of aliphatic polyesters by polycondensation and ring-opening polymerization is reviewed. This includes homopolyesters, random, block, graft, star, and hyper-branched (co)polyesters. Recent progress in the synthesis of high molecular weight aliphatic polyesters is described. Specific properties of these polymers are also given. The biomedical and ecological applications of these biodegradable polymers show their technological importance and relevance.

Ann-Christine Albertsson

Papers

Recent Developments in Ring Opening Polymerization of Lactones for Biomedical Applications

From Lactic Acid to Poly(lactic acid) (PLA): Characterization and Analysis of PLA and Its Precursors

The mechanism of biodegradation of polyethylene

Aliphatic Polyesters: Synthesis, Properties and Applications

Biodegradable and electrically conducting polymers for biomedical applications