Functional Renewable Plastics: Developing Novel Polysaccharide, Protein and Natural Polyester Based Polymer Nanocomposites

生物聚合物塑料(如来自植物的淀粉和蛋白质；来自废物的聚乳酸)由可再生资源制成，易于生物降解，使其成为包装和农膜等合成塑料的良好替代品。 一些生物聚合物塑料的性能(如水迁移阻隔性、强度)不如合成塑料高。创造纳米生物复合材料(生物聚合物塑料与低水平的纳米颗粒混合)将改善生物聚合物塑料的性能，提供可在更广泛的应用中取代合成塑料的新型材料。 这些产品将减少对环境的影响，并从新颖的、高价值的纳米生物复合材料中创造经济效益。

Biopolymer based plastics (eg starch and proteins from plants; polylactic acid from wastes) are made from renewable sources and are readily biodegradable, making them good substitutes for synthetic plastics for uses like packaging and agricultural film. Some biopolymer plastics properties (eg water migration barrier, strength) are not as high as synthetic plastics. Creating nano-biocomposites (biopolymer plastics mixed with low levels of nano particles) will improve the properties of biopolymer plastics, giving novel materials that can be substituted for synthetic plastics in a wider range of applications. These products will reduce our environmental impact, and also create economic benefits from novel, high-value nano-biocomposites.