Biobased/Green Materials: General Session

Biobased/Green materials can make important contribution to energy security, rural economic development, and environmental quality. There is a growing urgency to develop novel green materials that can compete with synthetic polymers in performance and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Renewable resource-based green polymers like polyhydroxyalkanoates, polylactides, cellulose esters, starches, three carbon glycol terephthalate, vegetable oil based epoxies, vegetal and animal proteins are receiving increased attention in the academic and industrial sectors. New value-added biobased materials are being produced from green polymers and natural fibers through efficient blends and composites with fossil-resource based plastics like polypropylene, nylon, polyesters, epoxies etc. We are seeking papers addressing the modification, processing, characterization and behavior of biobased/green materials as well as their blends. We also encourage papers dealing with Life Cycle Assessment/Environmental and Economical importance of these developing new materials platforms.