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Description
Biocomposites made of poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC), a carbon dioxide (CO2) derived polymer, and a renewable polysaccharide are promising materials for several applications such as biomaterials and packaging. However, most of PPC-based biocomposites exhibit low mechanical and optical properties due to the inherent incompatibility between PPC and most other polymers. In this work, a novel biocomposite composed of PPC and chitosan was developed using a facile and sustainable water-based production process. This innovative synthetic route enables the formation of chitosan micron/submicron particles dispersed within the PPC matrix. This, in turn, leads to improved mechanical performance and thermal stability of these renewable and low carbon footprint materials. Furthermore, vitamin C is incorporated and its sustained release from the biocomposites results in prolonged and effective antioxidant properties. These CO2-based biocomposites are biodegradable in seawater forming non-toxic products. The developed PPC/chitosan biocomposite represents intriguing candidates for the sustainable development of biomaterials
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