Overview of polymers and biopolymers degradation and stabilization towards sustainability and materials circularity

Abstract

Modern society needs to address the major societal challenges related to human health, safety and the environment by developing new safe and environmentally friendly polymers and biopolymer-based materials and technologies. With this in mind, the present overview provides an integrated approach to understanding when and how polymers and biopolymers are subject to degradation phenomena throughout their life cycle, taking into account their specific conditions of synthesis, manufacture, use and end -of -life. It also discusses what kind of stabilization strategies could be applied to prevent the degradation of polymers and biopolymers. The term " degradation " is therefore used in a broad sense to include all processes that lead to a change in the properties and overall performance of polymers and biopolymers, from synthesis to end -of -life. The main experimental techniques used to follow the degradation phenomena of polymers and biopolymers and to evaluate their structural and property changes are also briefly mentioned. The work attempts to provide points for reflection on the importance of understanding degradation, which is directly related to the failure of polymers and biopolymers in-service conditions. It also briefly discusses the application of a controlled degradation strategy to solve the negative environmental impact of polymers and biopolymers and to implement an integrated circular approach for material recovery. Therefore, today with significant advances in polymer science and technology, understanding, tuning and controlling the degradation of polymers and biopolymers is of paramount importance, especially considering the environmental sustainability and biocompatibility of the degradation products.