Abstract In the pursuit of sustainable packaging to combat plastic pollution, sodium alginate, a renewable biopolymer, holds promise but demands enhancements for brittleness and moisture sensitivity. This study compares ionic crosslinking and polymer blending to develop high‐performance films from a tensile strength‐optimized formulation. Ionic crosslinking with CaCl 2 boosts tensile strength to 41 MPa but induces brittleness (<2% elongation), reduced thermal stability and barrier trade‐offs. On the contrary, compatibilizer‐free blending with 30 wt% poly[(butylene adipate)‐ co ‐terephthalate] (PBAT) yields better films with 47 MPa tensile strength, 852 g m −2 day −1 water vapor transmission rate and improved thermal stability, driven by hydrogen bonding and ‘sea–island’ morphology. Based on published literature on PBAT compostability and reported degradation behavior of PBAT/alginate‐type systems, the blend films are expected to be compatible with industrial composting end‐of‐life routes; however, biodegradation was not measured in this study. Polymer blending emerges as a superior strategy, decoupling trade‐offs for multifunctional, ecofriendly packaging films. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Abstract Thermoplastic starch (TPS) is a biodegradable and cost‐effective alternative to single‐use plastic packaging; however, its poor mechanical strength and water resistance limit its commercial applications. This study investigated the incorporation of bio‐based materials—sisal fibers (untreated and alkali‐treated), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) with different substitution levels (0.7 and 1.2) and nanoclay—into TPS to enhance its properties. Neat TPS and TPS/bio‐based material films were prepared using a casting method and evaluated through tensile testing, SEM, water absorption, thermal analysis and XRD. CMC0.7 exhibited the most balanced performance, increasing the tensile modulus from 52.52 MPa (neat TPS) to 114.04 MPa and the tensile strength from 4.17 to 5.52 MPa, while reducing water absorption from 14.94% to as low as 6.70% depending on CMC0.7 content and maintaining comparable elongation at break. Untreated sisal fiber at 15 wt% provided the greatest reduction in water absorption from 14.94% (neat TPS) to 4.25%, but caused a pronounced decrease in elongation at break from 51.10% to 7.79%, while alkali treatment enhanced tensile properties, thermal stability and crystallinity. CMC1.2 increased the elongation at break up to 133.95% and enhanced crystallinity due to improved chain mobility. Nanoclay contributed to improved moisture resistance by reducing water absorption but offered limited mechanical reinforcement due to dispersion issues. Overall, CMC0.7 emerged as the most effective additive, offering a combination of mechanical enhancement and water resistance suitable for TPS‐based biodegradable films with potential applications in non‐barrier packaging. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Abstract A series of bio‐based epoxy monomers were efficiently synthesized from di‐/tri‐hydroxy precursors, which were prepared via the cross‐aldol condensation of vanillin with various ketone reagents. The epoxy precursors and resulting networks were thoroughly characterized and cured with different amine‐based hardeners to investigate the correlation between the chemical structures of the reagents and the resulting properties. Among the tested systems, the epoxy cured with triethylenetetramine (DDN) exhibited the highest glass transition temperature ( T g ) and α‐transition temperature ( T α ), along with the highest loss modulus ( E ″) and crosslinking density ( υ ) (145 °C, 157 °C, 126.6 MPa and 72.8 × 10 3 mol m −3 , respectively). In contrast, the epoxy cured with 1,10‐diaminodecane (DD) which has the lowest functionality in both the epoxy monomer and the curing agent showed the highest molecular weight between crosslinks ( M c ) (375.6 g mol −1 ) and the lowest crosslinking density ( υ ) (9.6 × 10 3 mol m −3 ). Furthermore, the epoxy sample cured with 1,8‐diamino‐3,6‐dioxaoctane (DDO) demonstrated the highest ultimate tensile strength (22.90 MPa) and elongation at break (6.56%). Thermal stability analysis revealed that the DDN‐cured epoxy thermoset exhibited the highest char yield (38.4%), indicating superior thermal resistance. However, the DD‐based thermoset displayed the highest statistical heat‐resistance index ( T s ), longest half‐life (1311 s) and highest degradation temperature ( T d = 447 °C), suggesting enhanced long‐term thermal stability. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Abstract To obtain sustainable polymers with a wide range of applications, a series of β‐farnesene (Far)‐glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) copolymers were successfully synthesized via thermal initiation emulsion polymerization at 60 °C, with varying molar ratios. The poly(β‐farnesene‐glycidyl methacrylate) copolymer with f Far = 0.15–0.75 exhibited conversions >90% with M n = 25 300–87 700 g mol −1 . Glass transition temperatures T g were determined to be in the range −65.9 to 31.3 °C. Furthermore, reactivity ratios were investigated for the β‐farnesene‐glycidyl methacrylate copolymer. Monomeric compositions in the copolymer were determined by 1 H NMR and reactivity ratios were calculated using two methods, the Kelen–Tudös method and the error in variables method using RREVM software, yielding 𝑟 Far = 0.5098 ± 0.0509 and 𝑟 GMA = 0.1975 ± 0.0197; these values suggest the formation of copolymer with a tendency to alternate. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Abstract In response to the growing need for effective and safe biomedical adhesives, this study focuses on developing a photocurable antibacterial bioadhesive derived from innovative and sustainable materials. A soybean oil‐based polyhydroxyurethane was synthesized and functionalized via reaction with itaconic anhydride. Tannic acid, a biobased polyphenolic compound selected for its adhesion‐promoting and antibacterial properties, underwent a partial methacrylation reaction to yield tannic acid methacrylate. Combining these compounds, in the appropriate composition with a photoinitiator, multifunctional thiol and a reactive diluent, led to the development of a thiol–ene photopolymerizable system. Fourier transform infrared and 1 H NMR spectroscopic methods were used to characterize these materials. The potential of this light‐curable system as an antibacterial bioadhesive was assessed through various assays. The bioadhesives exhibited a high gel content of 98% in water and 85% in tetrahydrofuran, and a sharp, uniform tan δ peak, confirming the successful formation of a homogeneous network structure. Suitable adhesion strength (331 kPa) to gelatin sheets, a tissue‐mimicking substrate, and surface free energy values of 52–58 mN m −1 demonstrated effective thermodynamic adhesion to skin tissue. Furthermore, the viability of approximately 88% for L‐929 fibroblast cells cultured with these bioadhesives confirmed their nontoxicity. Additionally, the bioadhesives showed moderate to good antimicrobial activity against S. aureus (72% killing) and E. coli (46% killing) bacteria. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Abstract Liquid crystal polymer (LCP) has become an ideal material for 5G communication due to its characteristics such as low dielectric constant ( D k ), low dielectric loss (D f ), high mechanical strength and excellent thermal resistance. This study establishes rotational blow molding as an innovative microstructure engineering platform for LCP films. By combining DSC, XRD, polarizing optical microscopy and polarized infrared spectroscopy, the rotational shearing driven regulation of molecular chain alignment and its effects on crystalline morphology were systematically analyzed. We demonstrated programmable molecular alignment control, identifying a critical transition at 20 rpm that generates a unique cross‐weaving network. This distinctive architecture reduces the crystallinity of the film products, simultaneously enhances mechanical toughness (300% increase in elongation) and promotes isotropy while maintaining excellent 5G dielectric properties. The established processing structure–property relationship provides fundamental insights for microstructure design of high‐performance polymer films in advanced communication applications. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Abstract Melamine–formaldehyde (MF) resin, a thermosetting polymer synthesized through the condensation reaction of melamine and formaldehyde, has gained significant applications and research interest owing to its unique properties. This review systematically introduces the synthesis, application and modification progresses of MF resin. The effects of raw material ratios and reaction conditions on the chemical structure and properties of MF resin are discussed. Recently developed MF resin has specialized performances for applications such as wood impregnation, coatings, adhesives and flame retardants. Additionally, MF foam exhibits microstructural and macroscopic functional properties, especially for applications in thermal insulation, sound absorption and oil–water separation. Addressing inherent limitations such as brittleness and free formaldehyde release, this paper comprehensively reviews modification approaches including chemical modifications, physical blending and composite modification techniques, along with their effectiveness in enhancing MF resin toughness. This paper provides systematic theoretical knowledge and practical guidance for improving MF resin performance, expanding application scopes and driving innovative development to meet evolving industrial demands and technological challenges. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Abstract Poly( l ‐lactide) (PLLA) is a promising biodegradable polymer whose widespread application is limited by inherent brittleness and insufficient thermal stability. To address these challenges, this study introduces silane‐functionalized MXene as a multifunctional nanofiller for PLLA. The MXene was chemically grafted with 3‐(triethoxysilyl)propylisocyanate to enhance interfacial compatibility with the polymer matrix. The resulting PLLA composite containing only 0.5 wt% of the modified MXene exhibits a dramatic mechanical enhancement, achieving a 210% elongation at break, which represents a 23‐fold increase over that of neat PLLA, while maintaining a high tensile strength of 58 MPa. Dynamic mechanical analysis confirms superior storage modulus, and thermogravimetric analysis reveals significantly improved thermal stability with degradation onset temperatures exceeding 290 °C. These findings demonstrate that silane‐functionalized MXene effectively reinforces PLLA through interfacial crosslinking and efficient stress transfer, providing a viable strategy for developing high‐performance biodegradable polymers. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.