Green Materials: Forest and Biobased Products II

There is a growing urgency to develop and commercialize new biobased/green materials and innovative technologies that can reduce the dependence on petroleum and at the same time can enhance national security, the economy and eco-friendliness. Renewable resource-based green polymers drawing recent attention include: polyhydroxyalkanoates, polylactides, cellulose esters, lignin, starches, three carbon glycol terephthalate, vegetable or plant oil based epoxies/polyesters and vegetal and animal proteins. Papers addressing the modification, processing, characterization and behavior of green polymers as well as their blends, composites (with natural fibers including wood) and nanocomposites (with organo-clays, cellulose nano-whiskers etc.) are encouraged. New value-added materials from byproducts/co-products of corn ethanol and soy oil industries are considered under this program. We also encourage papers dealing with Life Cycle Assessment/Environmental and Economic importance of such developing ‘green/biobased materials’ as contrast to present fully fossil fuel/petroleum based materials. Papers dealing with innovative ideas to increase public awareness, education and outreach activities on the benefit and ease of biobased/green materials are entertained.