Challenges for Natural Monomers and Polymers: Novel Design Strategies and Engineering to Develop Advanced Polymers

The last century witnessed the emergence of polymer science and technology that enabled the generation of knowledge and techniques to control the size, shape, structure, properties and functions of polymers to generate polymers with unprecedented properties and functions. There have been many attempts to apply this information to natural monomers and polymers to achieve the desired property profiles with varying degrees of success which have given/are giving it a new outlook as a possible alternative source for the production of polymers. Novel concepts and techniques such as 'bio-inspired' polymer design, 'synthetically-inspired' material development, etc., are contributing to the development of natural monomers and polymers as a sustainable resource to generate a knowledge-based design methodology to meet the vastly developing requirements of modern materials. This paper reviews these emerging concepts and techniques that integrate materials synthesis, process and manufacturing options with eco efficiency. (c) Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2010