Abstract

Investigations on the use of renewable feedstocks to replace fossil-based raw materials are attracting growing interest in contemporary polymer science from academic, government, and industrial organizations. Bio-based plastics are being developed to limit the use of petrochemical-derived plastics, and the development of sustainable, (bio)degradable, and/or recyclable polymers is a crucial answer to the undesirable environmental, economic, and social costs that are connected to the use of fossil-derived chemicals.

Located in Glassboro, New Jersey, the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering at Rowan University has launched its Sustainable Materials Research Laboratory (SMRL). The laboratory aims to advance fundamental and applied science and engineering technology related to materials research. SMRL uses advanced materials analysis technology from Waters to accelerate knowledge about potential bio polymers and polymeric composites, as well as to find applications in product design.