We are delighted to edit this special themed issue of Chinese Journal of Polymer Science (CJPS) devoted to the recent advances in Bio-based Polymers. Polymers are indispensable materials in our daily life and have become the material of choice for the 21st century. These materials show undeniable advantages such as low cost, low density, durability, safeness and processability. Traditionally, these materials have largely been produced by using petroleum-based feedstocks, and most of them are non-degradable. Therefore, huge production and use of these materials have created severe worldwide environmental concerns, depletion of the finite natural resources, and overall carbon emission. Concurrently, there is an urgent need to develop environmentally benign polymer materials from renewable resources. This themed issue is an illustration of the latest development in this dynamic area. The collection is composed by 10 regular articles and 1 review article, focusing on the development of advanced catalytic systems, synthesis and characterization of degradable polymers derived from bio-based monomers, and properties modification and applications of degradable polymer materials from renewable feedstocks.
In the review article by Cai and coworkers, they summarized recent developments of chitin solvents. The solvent properties, dissolution methods, and solution properties were discussed in detail. Special attention was paid to the dissolution mechanism in each system. This review can provide a reference for understanding the dissolution behaviors of chitin and finding suitable solvents for desired applications. In the 10 regular articles, Pang and Chen studied the effect of oxygen on Salen-Co complexes as catalysts for the copolymerization of propylene oxide and carbon dioxide. Kaneko and coworkers reported the syntheses of soluble biopolyimides by using bio-based 4-aminophenylalanine. Liu reported a facile synthesis method towards high molecular weight polypeptides using sodium hexamethyldisilazide or potassium hexamethyldisilazide as initiator for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of α-amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides. Liu et al. reported the synthesis and properties of thiophene-aromatic polyesters, which might be potential alternatives for the 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid-based polyesters. Li and Zhao prepared degradable polymenthide and its elastomers from bio-based menthide via organocatalyzed ROP and UV curing. Gan and Huang reported the preparation of antistatic structural color and photoluminescent membranes by co-assembling cellulose nanocrystals and carbon nanomaterials with potential applications of anti-counterfeiting. Yang and Ma constructed stereo-complexed poly(lactide) composites, which could be used as engineering plastics with superior toughness, heat-resistance and anti-hydrolysis. Zhang and coworkers prepared cellulose acetate thermoplastics with high modulus, dimensional stability, and anti-migration properties by using (cellulose acetate)-graft-poly(lactic acid) as macromolecular plasticizer. Han and coworkers systematically studied the mechanical properties, crystallization and biodegradation behaviors of the polylactide/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) blown films. Wang and Zhu reported the improvement in toughness of poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) by melt blending with bio-based polyamide-11.We hope this special themed issue would continuously stimulate the research activity in this field, bring new ideas of creating new degradable polymers materials from sustainable bio-based monomers or biopolymers.Finally, we thank all the contributions of the authors to this exciting field in this themed issue.