Recent contributions to the preparation of polymers derived from renewable resources

The aim of this paper is to provide an update on the ongoing research of our laboratory in the field of polymeric materials derived from biomass components. The first section deals with the oxypropylation of different vegetable or animal biomass residues and the use of the ensuing polyols in different polyurethane formulations. Thus, foams, elastomers, and membranes were obtained and their properties compared favorably with those of equivalent materials prepared from petroleum-based sources. The second section is devoted to furan copolymers and their use in reversibly crosslinked elastomers via the Diels-Alder reaction and in the field of photosensitive materials. The third section describes novel approaches to the surface modification of cellulosic fibers to be employed in composite materials with polymeric matrices, consisting in the use of organometallics and siloxanes as coupling agents. The final two sections are devoted to a brief outline of the role of lignins and vegetable oils as additives in printing inks, varnishes, and paints.