Characterization of extruded films based on poly (butylene succinate) blends to utilize a partially degraded poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)

Polymer blends can improve material processability and can be used to extrude partially degraded materials, such as expired poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), which cannot be normally extruded. Therefore, in this study, the extrudability of PBAT that has passed its expiration date was restored by blending it with poly (butylene succinate) (PBS). Various polymer blends were extruded and characterized to achieve high-efficiency extrusion. The carbonyl indices in partially degraded PBAT and the corresponding control sample detailed the effects of 98 months of aging on molecular properties. The semicrystalline structure consisted of a mixed ordered arrangement of PBS and PBAT chains dispersed in an amorphous matrix. The microscopic images of the surfaces of the polymer films revealed defects and roughness, followed by an increase in the PBAT concentration in blends. Changes in mechanical properties and water vapor permeability correlated with the PBAT concentration in the blends. To avoid polymer loss, we reported a simple method for using PBAT that has passed its expiration date and cannot be extruded. The results revealed that the polymer films could be used in the packaging industry, especially in food and agricultural sectors.     

Rheological,mechanical, thermal,and morphological properties of blends poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate), thermoplastic starch,and cellulose nanoparticles

The objective of the present study was the preparation and characterization of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and thermoplastic starch (TPS) blends reinforced with cellulose nanoparticles (CNCs) by extrusion. The work was conducted in four steps. Initially, the CNCs were prepared from eucalyptus cellulose pulp by acid hydrolysis. The second step was the preparation of the nanocomposite (TPS-CNC), composed of cassava starch, CNC, glycerol, and citric and stearic acids, by double screw extrusion. The third step was the preparation of PBAT/TPS-CNC blends in twin-screw extruders. In the fourth step, the films were produced by flat extrusion. Blends exhibited similar rheological behavior, increasing the CNC concentration in blends increased the viscosity as a function of the shear rate, and altered the behavior of the shear storage (G′) and shear loss (G″) curves as a function of the oscillation frequency (ω). The presence of CNC in blend provided improvements significant in mechanical properties, with 120% increase in Young's modulus, and 46% increase in maximum tensile. Thermal behavior (thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry) was altered with the incorporation of the CNC, showing a single melt peak (T_m) and a slight increase in T_g, indicating good dispersion between the phases of the blends, corroborating with the fracture surface microscopy of films.     

High performance materials based on a self‐assembled multiple‐percolated ternary blend

In this study, it will be shown that morphologically tailored tricontinuous ternary blends, comprising polybutylene succinate (PBS), polylactic acid (PLA), and poly (butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate)(PBAT), can generate new materials with excellent properties. Detailed morphological analysis is used to establish that all three phases in the ternary 33%PBS/33%PLA/33%PBAT blend morphology are highly continuous with a phase structure dominated by complete wetting dynamics. PBS is shown to situate itself between PLA and PBAT. This melt processed, self‐assembled, multiple percolated, blend possesses a high elongation at break (567%), high Young's modulus (1130 MPa), high impact strength (271 J/m), and a storage modulus about 50% higher than pure PBS at room temperature. None of the neat materials demonstrate this combination of high properties and the synergy derives from the tricontinuous structure of the system. The ternary nature of the blend allows for a modulation of the crystallinity behavior as examined by differential scanning calorimeter and X‐ray Diffraction. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 3005–3012, 2014     

聚乳酸／PBAT共混物的制备及其性能研究

用熔融挤出法制备了聚乳酸饼苯二甲酸-己二酸-1，4-丁二醇三元共聚酯（PLA／PBAT）共混物，研究了聚乳酸／PBAT共混物的力学性能、热性能以及相容性。结果表明：共混物的冲击强度及断裂伸长率随着PRAT含量的增加而增大，在PBAT含量为30％时，断裂伸长率最大，达到9％，PBAT的加入降低了共混物的拉伸、弯曲性能，但在添加量较少的情况下（如5％和10％），拉伸、弯曲性能下降不大。退火处理极大的提高了材料的维卡软化温度。当PBAT含量较高时，共混物的断面可以明显的观察到不相容的两相结构。     

PBS/PBAT共混型全生物降解材料的制备及其性能研究

通过熔融共混法制备了聚丁二酸丁二醇酯（PBS）/聚己二酸对苯二甲酸丁二酯（PBAT）共混物,用熔体流动速率法、扫描量热法、X射线衍射、扫描电镜法及力学性能测试等手段研究了PBS/PBAT共混物的熔体流动性、结晶性能、力学性能以及共混物相容性。结果表明,随着PBAT含量的增加,PBS/PBAT共混体系的拉伸强度先升高后降低,断裂伸长率不断提高,冲击强度先降低后提高;当PBAT含量为20 %（质量分数,下同）时,与纯PBS相比,断裂伸长率提高10倍,冲击强度提高82 %,而拉伸强度仅仅降低6 %。     

PLA/PBAT共混物的降解性能研究

通过双螺杆挤出机和吹膜机组制备不同比例的聚乳酸/聚对苯二甲酸己二酸丁二酯（PLA/PBAT）共混物薄膜,测量共混物的热性能、力学性能,并观察其相形貌,计算共混物在堆肥条件下的生物降解率,研究共混物降解前后的结构、热力学行为和元素的变化。结果表明,PLA与PBAT是不相容体系,加入PBAT后PLA的韧性得到改善;PLA的生物降解率高于PBAT,共混物的生物降解率随着PBAT含量的增加而降低,且在降解初期,PLA的降解产物会促进PBAT的水解;PLA、PBAT及其共混物在堆肥降解前期只是大分子链水解为小分子链的过程,不发生分子链的结构变化;PLA及PBAT的降解会先发生在无定形区,共混物中PLA在无定形区的降解速度受到PBAT的影响而变慢,且共混物中PLA、PBAT的降解行为发生变化,无定形区与结晶区的降解同时发生;共混物在堆肥试验初期的降解以水解为主。     

聚乳酸/聚己二酸对苯二甲酸丁二酯合共混体系发泡行为研究

采用多环氧基团增容剂制备了聚乳酸/聚己二酸对苯二甲酸丁二酯(PLA/PBAT)共混物,研究了增容剂含量对于PLA/PBAT共混体系的结晶和流变性能的影响。并采用高压釜发泡的方法进行PLA/PBAT共混物的间歇发泡,研究增容剂对发泡材料泡体结构的影响。结果表明,增容剂加入后会降低其绝对结晶度,以及显著改善PLA/PBAT共混体系的熔体弹性,提高其可发性;增容剂可以有效地改善共混体系的泡体结构,降低共混物发泡密度,提高其发泡倍率。     

Strengthening of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) by melt blending with a liquid crystalline polymer

Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) is a soft biodegradable polymer with a low melting temperature. PBAT has been melt-blended with a liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) aiming at preparing a new biodegradable polymer blend with improved mechanical properties. The phase structure and crystalline morphologies of the PBAT/LCP blends were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that the LCP domains are precisely dispersed in the PBAT matrix and that these domains act as the nuclei for PBAT crystallization. The nonisothermal crystallization temperature from the melt was dramatically shifted from 50°C to about 95°C by the addition of 20% LCP. In addition, the tensile modulus of the prepared blends increases gradually with increasing LCP content, indicating the excellent strengthening effects of LCP on the PBAT matrix. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Morphology and hydrogen‐bond restricted crystallization of poly(butylene succinate)/cellulose diacetate blends

Poly(butylene succinate)/cellulose diacetate (PBS/CDA) blends were prepared by the solution blending method from poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and cellulose diacetate (CDA). The influence of hydrogen bond on the structure, morphology, crystallization, as well as the physical properties of PBS/CDA blends was significantly investigated. The fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results indicated that the carbonyl groups of PBS shifted to higher wavenumbers and disappeared at the content of 60% CDA, due to the formation of hydrogen bond between PBS and CDA. The wide‐angle X‐ray diffractometer (WAXD) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) analysis suggest that the crystallization of PBS was significantly restricted by the incorporation of CDA, which is also attributed to the hydrogen bonding. The scanning electron miscroscope (SEM) and polarized optical microscopy (POM) results revealed that PBS and CDA were miscible without appearance of obvious phase separation. The hydrogen bonding interaction led to the change of decomposing mechanism of blends as determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), as well as the increase of the elongation at break due to the reduced crystallinity of PBS. The existence of CDA led to the decrease of water contact angle, showing of the improved hydrophilicity. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

扩链剂增容PLA/PBAT共混物流变性能

通过熔融共混法制备了Joncryl ADR 4370F扩链剂增容聚乳酸/聚对苯二甲酸/己二酸丁二酯(PLA/PBAT)共混物,采用旋转流变仪分别研究了扩链剂和PBAT含量对PLA/PBAT共混物动态流变行为的影响。通过动态应变扫描确定了PLA/PBAT共混物的线性黏弹区,应变选取1%;PLA/PBAT共混物的储能模量和损耗模量随着角频率的增加而增大,但复数黏度却降低,共混物熔体呈现剪切变稀行为,是典型的假塑性流体流动特征;随着扩链剂和PBAT含量的增加,共混物的储能模量、损耗模量和复数黏度增大;Han曲线分析表明,扩链剂的加入改善了共混物的相容性;动态时间扫描表明,时间对纯PLA和PBAT的储能模量基本没有影响,PLA/PBAT共混物的储能模量随时间的延长而降低,扩链剂和PBAT含量不同,使得时间对共混物储能模量的影响不同。     

Influence of phthalic anhydride and bioxazoline on the mechanical and morphological properties of biodegradable poly(lactic acid)/poly[(butylene adipate)‐co‐terephthalate] blends

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly[(butylene adipate)‐co‐terephthalate] (PBAT) blends were fabricated by melt blending, with 2,2′‐(1,3‐phenylene)bis(2‐oxazoline) (BOZ) and phthalic anhydride (PA) used as compatibilizers. It was found that a small amount of BOZ or PA greatly increased the elongation at break of the PLA/PBAT blends without sacrificing their high tensile strength. Scanning electron microscopy results revealed that the PBAT particles became finer and were uniformly dispersed in the matrix when the compatibilizers were incorporated, which indicated that the interfacial bonding and compatibilization between PLA and PBAT were improved in the presence of the compatibilizers. Compared with PLA/PBAT blends, the molecular weight of PLA/PBAT/PA/BOZ blends was increased due to chain‐extending reactions. Differential scanning calorimetry results suggested PBAT decreased the crystallization rate and crystallinity of PLA in the blends. Moreover, the glass transition temperature of PBAT was further decreased when the compatibilizers were used. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Formulation and characterization of compatibilized poly(lactic acid)‐based blends and their nanocomposites with silver‐loaded kaolinite

Biodegradable polymer nanocomposites have been developed in this study as materials for use in the packaging of moisture‐sensitive products. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) was the main component of the nanocomposites with poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) as flexibility enhancer. Tetrabutyl titanate was also added as a compatibilizer to enhance the interfacial affinity between PLA and PBAT by inducing the formation of some PLA/PBAT via transesterification during the melt blending process, thereby improving the mechanical properties of the blends. Silver‐loaded kaolinite synthesized via chemical reduction was also incorporated into the compatibilized blends for further property improvement. Herein, we report a novel biodegradable quaternary nanocomposite system with intercalated‐exfoliated clay dispersion that was uniquely achieved by increasing the interlamellar space between kaolinite layers through silver nanoparticle insertion. The resultant nanocomposites containing as little as 4 phr modified clay reduced the elongation at break from 213.0 ± 5.85% to 53.8 ± 1.81%, enhanced thermal stability (initial decomposition temperature increased from 378 °C to 399 °C) and exhibited a water vapor permeability reduction of 41.85%. On the basis of these properties, the developed nanocomposites are considered to be promising candidates for use in bio‐packaging applications to replace non‐biodegradable and petro‐based plastics. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

PBTA/TPS共混物的结构、性能和断裂行为

将热塑性淀粉(TPS)与聚(对苯二甲酸丁二醇酯-己二酸丁二醇酯)(PBAT)挤出共混并注塑成型,制备了可完全生物降解的TPS/PBAT复合材料制品。采用扫描电子显微镜研究了注塑复合材料的层次结构与微观形态,测试了不同组分复合材料的性能和应力应变行为。结果表明：TPS在PBAT中呈皮芯结构分布,随含量增加逐渐由芯层向皮层分布。当含量为45%时,芯层到皮层形成均匀的以纤维为主的分散相形态,提高了复合材料的力学性能。加入TPS后会改变复合材料的形变行为,由类似半结晶聚合物的应力应变行为转变为屈服-冷拉行为。     

Fabrication and characterisation of thermoplastic starch/poly(butylene succinate) blends with maleated poly(butylene succinate) as compatibiliser

Thermoplastic starch/poly(butylene succinate) (TPS/PBS), an entirely biodegradable polymer blend, was prepared by a two-step extrusion method. Maleic anhydride grafted PBS (rPBS) was successfully synthesised as an interfacial compatibiliser. The miscibility, morphology, thermal behaviour and mechanical properties of the TPS/PBS blends were investigated. The results demonstrated that the strength and elongation at break of TPS/PBS blends were greatly increased with the addition of rPBS in PBS blends due to improved interfacial miscibility. Better distribution and smaller phase domain were observed in the blends with higher content of compatibilisers. The water resistance was also enhanced by incorporation of rPBS. It was indicated that compatibilised TPS/PBS blends possessed a combination of good biodegradability, improved strength and high water resistance. TPS/PBS blend was expected to serve as a promising packing material.     

Reactable versus soluble DOPO derivatives in poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) composites: Flame retardance,mechanical properties and morphology

Flame retardant poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene adipate-co- terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT) composites containing 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10- phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) derivatives (phosphorus-containing diol compound of DOPO-HQ, and bis DOPO phosphonates of DIDOPO) were systematically and comparatively investigated. Results showed that the different structures of the two derivatives with reactable or soluble characteristics display different effects. DIDOPO endows a higher limiting oxygen index and a better UL-94 rating for PLA/PBAT composites compared with DOPO-HQ. Compared with that of PLA/PBAT, the peak heat release rate of PLA/PBAT/DIDOPO-12.5 is 8.4% lower and that of PLA/PBAT/DOPO-HQ-12.5 is 30.6% lower. The flame retardant mechanism of the main gaseous and minor condensed phases is evident for the flame retardant PLA/PBAT composites. In comparison, DIDOPO displays a greater flame inhibition effect, and DOPO-HQ shows better barrier and protective functions in PLA/PBAT composites. Besides, the elongation at break of the composites with DOPO-HQ is slightly superior to that of PLA/PBAT/DIDOPO. After the introduction of flame retardant, the blends show dispersed particles with size reduction relative to those of PLA/PBAT. This work provides a guidance to design PLA composites with simultaneously improved flame retardancy and toughness.     

PBAT/热塑性玉米淀粉共混改性对结构和力学性能影响

采用价格低廉的玉米淀粉为填充剂来改性生物可降解聚己二酸?对苯二甲酸丁二酯（PBAT），以降低PBAT价格，拓宽应用领域。首先采用丙三醇对玉米淀粉进行塑化，再采用双螺杆挤出机进行造粒获得热塑性淀粉（TPS）粒料，然后采用双螺杆挤出机和注塑机制备不同比例的PBAT/TPS样条，最后分析论文TPS含量对样条结构和力学性能的影响。结果表明，经丙三醇塑化后的淀粉含有大量的羟基，PBAT的结晶结构与PBT的相同，随着TPS含量的增加，PBAT的结晶完善程度逐渐降低，结晶温度向高温方向偏移，拉伸强度和断裂伸长率逐渐降低，而弹性模量有相反的趋势。     

Compatible and crystallization properties of poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) blends

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) properties of poly(lactic acid)/ poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT) specimens suggest that only small amounts of poor PLA and/or PBAT crystals are present in their corresponding melt crystallized specimens. In fact, the percentage crystallinity, peak melting temperature and onset re‐crystallization temperature values of PLA/PBAT specimens reduce gradually as their PBAT contents increase. However, the glass transition temperatures of PLA molecules found by DSC and DMA analysis reduce to the minimum value as the PBAT contents of PLA_xPBAT_y specimens reach 2.5 wt %. Further morphological and DMA analysis of PLA/PBAT specimens reveal that PBAT molecules are miscible with PLA molecules at PBAT contents equal to or less than 2.5 wt %, since no distinguished phase‐separated PBAT droplets and tan δ transitions were found on fracture surfaces and tan δ curves of PLA/PBAT specimens, respectively. In contrast to PLA, the PBAT specimen exhibits highly deformable properties. After blending proper amounts of PBAT in PLA, the inherent brittle deformation behavior of PLA was successfully improved. Possible reasons accounting for these interesting crystallization, compatible and tensile properties of PLA/PBAT specimens are proposed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Rheological and mechanical behavior of non-spherical poly(lactic acid) particles embedded poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) blend

In this study, the poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)(PBAT) blend is investigated to improve rheological and mechanical performances of PBAT based on rheological, mechanical, and thermal behavior analyses. The multi-step mixing method is developed to fabricate the blend with non-spherical morphology. In the multi-step mixing method, blends with a wide composition range (25/75–75/25) are mixed with additional PBAT at a mixing temperature between the melting temperatures of PBAT and PLA to produce the PBAT blend embedded with non-spherical PLA particles (10 wt%). The embedding of non-spherical PLA particles in PBAT increases the resistance against deformation, resulting in strain hardening behavior and an increase in the yield strength as well as the tear resistance of the PBAT. The presence of stiff PLA particles enhances the crystallization behavior of PBAT, meaning that polymer chains may interpenetrate. The findings of this study suggest that the multi-step mixing method is beneficial for embedding non-spherical PLA particles into a PBAT matrix, which in turn facilitates the maintenance of good interfacial adhesion to increase the melt strength, yield strength, and tear resistance.     

增容剂DT对PLA/PBAT共混物性能的影响

以不饱和酯类化合物(DT)为增容剂,通过双螺杆挤出机反应性挤出制备聚乳酸(PLA)/聚己二酸对苯二甲酸丁二酯(PBAT)共混物。采用扫描电子显微镜、旋转流变仪、偏光显微镜、差示扫描量热仪、热重分析仪和万能试验机讨论DT对共混物相容性、结晶性能、热失重以及力学性能的影响。结果表明,适量的DT增加了两相之间界面黏结,有效改善了PLA和PBAT之间相容性;当DT添加量为0.3 %（质量分数,下同）时,断裂伸长率增加了46.3 %,冲击强度显著增加,冲击试样未完全断裂。     

PBAT/木粉复合材料的制备

以木粉和聚己二酸/对苯二甲酸丁二酯(PBAT)为原料,添加硅烷偶联剂,混合均匀后,在开炼机中混炼一定时间制备PBAT/木粉复合材料,从偶联剂种类及其用量、加工温度、加工时间4个方面探讨了制备PBAT/木粉复合材料的最佳工艺条件。研究结果表明,加入的硅烷偶联剂KH–560用量为木粉和PBAT总质量的2%,与木粉和PBAT在130℃下混炼10 min,制备出的PBAT/木粉复合材料的相容性较好,且复合材料的拉伸性能达到最优,拉伸强度和断裂伸长率分别达到12.42 MPa和56.58%。SEM分析表明,添加KH–560后,PBAT/木粉的相容性得到了明显改善,耐水性更好,吸水率从13.04%下降到10.39%,制备出的PBAT/木粉复合材料的耐热性能较原料木粉也得到了较大的提高,在395℃时仅分解40%。