Modern biopolyamide-based materials: synthesis and modification

The wider use of renewable feedstock in structural applications, where high mechanical performance is required, can be achieved by the application of recently developed engineering biopolymers and their further modification by micro- and nanoparticles. In this review, we present the current state of the art of biopolyamide materials for structural and functional applications. The overview includes all stages of the manufacturing-from the synthesis of building blocks, through the synthesis of polymers and its physical modification, with special emphasis on the properties of the obtained engineering biocomposites as a final product of modern polymer technology. In the first part, the synthetic routes of bio-derived counterparts of common polyamides as well as specialty polymers with functional properties arising from the complex structure of biochemicals were exemplified. The development of environmentally friendly composites and nanocomposites based on biopolyamides and natural fillers, such as plant fibers or cellulosic nanofibers, was of particular interest due to preserved sustainable character of such materials.