Innovative exploration of additive incorporated biopolymer-based composites
Leticia Peace Amenorfe, Eric Selorm Agorku, Frederick Sarpong, Ray Bright Voegborlo
Abstract
The exploration into biopolymer applications in recent times is fast growing and extensive. The various applications currently depict how far biopolymers are breaking barriers and surmounting all drawbacks to replace the synthetic polymers obtained from petroleum-based materials. The merit to this relevance can be attributed to their excellent properties and flexibility to modifications through different methods. The additives incorporated during the processing virtually convert the biopolymers into more versatile and dynamic materials that leverage and widen their applications in drug delivery, food packaging, automobiles, medicine and agriculture. Pertaining to this review, some commonplace biopolymers were cataloged in relation to their sources and mode of extraction. These biopolymers possess active groups which make their interaction possible with each other to form biocomposites and by that enhance their properties. The properties are better enhanced to attain excellent biocomposites upon incorporating additives. Hence, additives of different origin (both organic and inorganic) have been explored, including their innovative utilization in producing novel products with numerous unprecedented applications such as the energetic fields.