This article, authored by Çağlar Erdem, Tuğba Işık, Nesrin Horzum, Baki Hazer, and Mustafa M. Demir, focuses on the electrospinning of fatty acid-based and metal-incorporated polymers to produce eco-friendly fibers. Published by Wiley in the journal Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, it contributes to sustainable polymer production, green chemistry, and nanomaterial applications.
The accumulation of plastic waste occupies ample space in the gyres of oceans, which is called the 7th continent. This high-level concentration of toxic plastic waste causes harmful consequences for marine life. Therefore, petroleum-originated plastics must be replaced (or at least partially) with natural resources. Environmental trends in material preparation promote using greener methods and materials when limited primary sources are considered. Starting from the fatty acid macro peroxide initiators, the synthesis of bio-based polymers using fewer commercial chemicals and stepwise green synthesis schemes could be possible soon. This research employs autoxidized vegetable oil initiators (castor, limonene, and soybean oil) containing metal nanoparticles (silver, platinum, and gold) for free radical polymerization of vinyl monomers. The metal-loaded and vegetable oil-based polymers are processed by electrospinning, and continuous fibers are successfully fabricated. Ag-loaded ricinoleic acid-based polymers show notable antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli. This approach offers a remarkable minimization of the initiator consumption in synthesizing such synthetic macromolecules and nanoparticle-containing polymer composites while still maintaining the ease of processing. Transforming the obtained graft copolymers to electrospun nanofibers facilitates the use of support materials for antibacterial surfaces.
This publication was originally written in English. Click here to view the article’s publication details page.
Erdem, Ç., Işık, T., Horzum, N., Hazer, B., Demir, M.M. (2022). “Electrospinning of Fatty Acid-Based and Metal Incorporated Polymers for the Fabrication of Eco-Friendly Fibers.” Article: Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, Vol. 223, Issue 3.
