Introduction to Green Based Nanocomposites: From Polymer Discovery to Eco-friendly Materials

Abstract

The origin of synthetic polymers could be established at the dawn of the eighteenth century, replacing products commonly obtained from the slaughter of mammals currently in danger of extinction. Advances in chemistry and macromolecular science made possible to manufacture synthetic polymers at a commercial level. However, natural and synthetic polymers were not able to cover the entire technical requirements demanded in certain applications; therefore, it was necessary to combine polymers with materials of other nature and properties, leading to the appearance of composite materials. Advances in composite materials science, the discovery of the capabilities of nanoparticles, and the manufacture of nanocomposites reinforced the growth in the use of plastics. However, the plastics industry, especially the packaging sector, has alerted the ecologists, as our culture of consumerism has not taken care of the rules for recycling these materials. Fortunately, new eco-friendly nanocomposites, along with the latest environmental protection laws make it possible to have commercially available biodegradable and biocompatible polymeric products. This introductory chapter presents an overview of each stage, from the discovery of synthetic plastics to the development of eco-friendly plastics. Finally, a brief compendium of the chapters presented in this book is given.