ABSTRACT
Polymers are compounds with high molecular weight, macromolecules constituted of interlinked basic structures called monomers. The term biopolymer is wide and involves the polymers synthesized by living organisms, e.g., polysaccharides, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids. But in literature it is common to encounter different definitions of biopolymer, such as, a material synthesized from fossil fuels and being biodegradable (Nair et al., 2017; Niaounakis, 2015). In recent years, interest in preserving the environment has increased, and therefore, the search for new materials that are friendly to the environment and that replace conventional materials has increased. In polymeric materials, progress has been made through the research and development of biopolymers that have physical and chemical, structural and functional properties that allow them to replace conventional polymers. In addition, biopolymers or natural polymers, due to their biological nature, have found countless applications in areas such as health, pharmaceuticals, food and environmental, just to mention a few. But to achieve this development of new products and the study of possible applications of these biomaterials, it is necessary to elucidate their chemical, physical, structural, thermal and mechanical properties, among others, through analysis and tests that allow characterizing the biopolymers to know the certainty of the scope of these materials. This chapter presents a review of the application of biopolymer analysis and test techniques, such as thermal analysis, methods to evaluate mechanical properties, crystallinity, cross-linking and degradation.
