The production and use of biopolymers increases continuously with a very high rate thus
all information on these materials is very important. This feature article first defines the
terms used in the area then discusses the distinction between degradation and biodegradation
as well as their importance for practice. Biopolymers often have inferior properties
compared to commodity polymers. Modification is a way to improve properties and
achieve property combinations required for specific applications. One technique is blending
which allows considerable improvement in the impact resistance of brittle polymers.
However, further study is needed on the miscibility–structure–property relationships of
these materials to utilize all potentials of the approach. The chemical structure of biopolymers
opens up possibilities to their reactive modification. Copolymerization, grafting,
trans-esterification, the use of reactive coupling agents have all been utilized with success
to achieve polymers and blends with improved properties. Several examples are shown for
the various approaches and their outcome. Biopolymers and their blends are applied successfully
in several areas from agriculture to consumer goods, packaging and automotive.