ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we provide an introduction to biodegradable polymers, their market size, factors affecting their processing parameters, challenges that arise during processing, and their applications in the domestic and commercial applications. We already know that biodegradable polymers have many advantages over conventional polymers, as non-degradable polymers create more problems to the environmental bodies and also release harmful gases during production. They take hundreds of years to partially degrade. Today, everywhere in the world, scientists, budding researchers, and government policymakers are paying increasing attention to the problems created by non-degradable polymers and the objects fabricated using them. Many countries have made some hard law to implement degradable polymers in place of non-degradable plastics. Governments worldwide are promoting the use of various degradable plastics in commodities and in almost all places where conventional plastics are being used. There are also many challenges with biodegradable polymers. Some of them are recycling, cost, and processability of these polymers. Also the market demand is huge. Thus, for all these reasons, we have to develop some alternative processing techniques to cut down the cost. Some natural fillers have to be added to enhance the mechanical strength of the materials fabricated using these polymers.
