Natural Polymers : Derivatives, Blends and Composites, Volume I

The purpose of this book is to provide a basic coverage of natural polymers with a primary emphasis beginning from introduction to their growing applications in different aspects of life. Recent decades has seen a boost in the polymers in various industries from pharmaceutical to construction to fashion industries where designer shoes and bags made from synthetic and natural polymers from both plants and animals have become commonplace. Natural polymers which are an important and overwhelming gift of nature showing their presence since the very existence of life in the form of DNA, cellulose, cotton, and rubber are all polymers occurring in nature since the beginning of the ages. Natural polymers herein refer to polymers obtained from natural sources with minimal or no alteration to their chemical structure. They occupy an exceptional position in the exciting world of novel biomaterials. The emergent needs of humankind and limited resources availability forces technologist or scientist to push back its position towards natural resources due to their regenerability, sustainability and environmentally friendly nature. Thus, understanding of the various properties, structure, sources and functions of natural polymers becomes an important subject and alternative way to combat the uses of non-renewable resources. Considering their sustainability and non-toxic properties the natural polymers could consider as a smart candidate in the advancement of biomaterials technology. Today chemical modifications of natural polymers are an emerging and challenging field for both scientist and the academician, enlarging their application in diverse areas. Natural polymer-based hydrogels have attracted special attention in the last few years owing to their unique characteristics such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, stimuli-responsive properties and biological functions finding applications in several fields such as biomedicine, toxic ion removal and water purification. This book looks at their modification, and processing for various applications.