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Biomaterials

Biopolymers are polymers derived from renewable resources such as plants, animals, or microorganisms. They are more sustainable than conventional polymers from fossil fuels. Biopolymers have advantages like sustainability, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. They can be used as binders, additives, or coatings in building construction. For example, biopolymers can make bricks, mortar, concrete more durable and fire resistant. However, biopolymers can be more expensive and less durable than traditional plastics, though continued research is addressing these challenges.

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8 views

Biomaterials

Biopolymers are polymers derived from renewable resources such as plants, animals, or microorganisms. They are more sustainable than conventional polymers from fossil fuels. Biopolymers have advantages like sustainability, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. They can be used as binders, additives, or coatings in building construction. For example, biopolymers can make bricks, mortar, concrete more durable and fire resistant. However, biopolymers can be more expensive and less durable than traditional plastics, though continued research is addressing these challenges.

Uploaded by

basmah asharaf ali
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Biomaterials - Biopolymers

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Biomaterials

Biomaterials are materials that are designed and engineered to interact with
biological systems, ranging from cells and tissues to whole organisms. They can be
natural or synthetic in origin.

Biopolymers

Biopolymers are polymers that are derived from renewable resources such as
plants, animals, or microorganisms. Unlike conventional polymers derived from
fossil fuels, biopolymers are considered more sustainable and environmentally
friendly. They have gained significant attention in various industries, including the
construction industry, due to their unique properties and potential applications.

Biopolymers are a promising new class of materials that have the potential to
revolutionize a wide range of industries. As research and development in this area
continues, biopolymers are likely to become more widely used in a variety of
applications.

Here are some of the specific advantages of using biopolymers:

● Sustainability: Biopolymers are often made from renewable resources, such


as corn starch and soybeans. This makes them a more sustainable alternative
to traditional plastics, which are made from petroleum.
● Biodegradability: Biopolymers are often biodegradable and compostable.
This means that they can be broken down by microorganisms and returned to
the environment. This is in contrast to traditional plastics, which can persist
in the environment for hundreds of years.
● Biocompatibility: Biopolymers are often biocompatible, meaning that they
are not toxic to living tissues. This makes them suitable for use in medical
devices and other applications that come into contact with the body.

Challenges of biopolymers

Despite these advantages, there are still some challenges associated with the use of
biopolymers. One challenge is that they can be more expensive than traditional
plastics. Another challenge is that they can be less durable than traditional plastics.
However, as research and development in this area continues, these challenges are
likely to be overcome.

Biopolymers can be used in a variety of ways in building construction, including:

● As a binder: Biopolymers can be used to bind together other materials, such


as sand, gravel, and cellulose fibres, to create new building materials. For
example, biopolymers can be used to make bricks, mortar, and concrete.
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● As an additive: Biopolymers can be added to traditional building materials,


such as concrete, to improve their properties. For example, biopolymers can
be added to concrete to make it more durable, water-resistant, and
fire-resistant.
https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/3-s2.0-B9780081002148000117-f11-03-9780081002148.jpg

● As a coating: Biopolymers can be used to coat other materials, such as


wood and metal, to improve their properties. For example, biopolymer
coatings can be used to make wood more water-resistant and durable, and to
make metal more corrosion-resistant.
Case study:

The Agua Hoja project by Neri Oxman is one such example that aims to arrest the vicious
industrial cycle of material extraction and obsolescence. This aim is realized through the
use of biopolymer composites that respond to their environment in ways that are
impossible to achieve with their synthetic counterparts. The installations make use of
some of the most abundant biopolymers on earth, like cellulose, chitosan, and pectin,
along with calcium carbonate. These are found in trees, insect exoskeletons, apple
skins, and bones. The structures were digitally designed and robotically manufactured,
with the biopolymer composites in constant dialogue with their environment. The
smallest changes in response to humidity, heat, and other external conditions, even at the
molecular level, can cause dramatic changes in the design and appearance of the
installation. It may lighten or darken as the season changes; may become brittle and
transparent or remain flexible and tough. In the end, once their purpose is served, these
structures will return to the source after dissociating in water.
Source:

Book, “Biopolymers Online” by Johann Plank

“Application of Microbial Biopolymers as an Alternative Construction Binder for Earth


Buildings in Underdeveloped Countries” by Ilhan Chang,Minkyung Jeon, and Gye-Chun
Cho

https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/architectural-community/a7837-alternative-materia
ls-biopolymers/

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