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Nanocomposite films of polybutylene succinate (PBS)/graphene nanoplatelets (GnP) with a GnP content ranging from 0 to 1.35 wt.% were prepared by melt processing. The morphology of both the neat PBS and PBS/GnP nanocomposites were investigated and revealed no significant impact of GnP on the crystalline microstructure. Moisture sorption at 10 °C, 25 °C, and 40 °C were analyzed and modeled using the Guggenheim, Andersen, and De Boer (GAB) equation and Zimm-Lundberg theory, allowing for a phenomenological analysis at the molecular scale. An understanding of the transport sorption properties was proposed by the determination of the molar heat of sorption (ΔHs), and the activation energy of the diffusion (Ed) of water in the matrix since both solubility and diffusion are thermo-activable properties. Both ΔHs and Ed showed a good correlation with the water clustering theory at high water activity. Water and dioxygen permeabilities ( and ) were determined as a function of temperature and water activity. and decreased with the addition of a small amount of GnP, regardless of the studied temperature. Moreover, the evolution of as a function of water activity was driven by the solubility process, whereas at a given water activity, was driven by the diffusion process. Activation energies of the permeability (Ep) of water and dioxygen showed a dependency on the nature of the permeant molecule. Finally, from the ΔHs, Ed, and Ep obtained values, the reduction in water permeability with the addition of a low content of GnP was attributed mainly to a tortuosity effect without diffusive interfaces rather than a significant change in the transport property mechanism.

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Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) is used to produce micro-/nanoporous biodegradable scaffolds, suitable for the release of the mosquito repellent N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET), based on thermally induced phase separation. For solvent-rich compositions up to 30 m% PBS, it was found that PBS dissolves in DEET at elevated temperatures. During cooling, spherulitic crystallization of PBS occurs, with the crystallization temperature decreasing with the content of DEET and the cooling rate, as determined by cloud-point measurements, differential scanning calorimetry, and polarized-light optical microscopy. Scaffold morphologies of quenched solutions were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy as a function of the polymer concentration and the quenching temperature. These two parameters control the nucleus density/spherulite size, the degree of intermeshing of spherulites, and the intra- and interspherulitic pore size, with the latter typically being of the order of magnitude of few micrometers.

The purpose of this research was to develop biocomposite films based on Poly (lactic acid); PLA, Polybutylene succinate; PBS and lemongrass powder; LE as a natural filler by twin-screw extruder and blow film extruder. The aim was to study the influences of LE and PBS on the physical and mechanical properties of biocomposite films. This work varied the weight percentage of PBS at 0, 10, and 20 wt% and varied the content of LE at 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10 wt%. The biocomposite films were characterized for physical properties (Color parameter and %UV transmittance), chemical properties (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy; FT-IR), mechanical properties (Tensile test), aging test at room temperature, and field testing. The mechanical properties of biocomposite films showed the addition of PBS into the PLA matrix increased the tensile strength and %elongation of biocomposite films by ~ 2–7 MPa and 1–2%, respectively. However, when increasing the amount of LE, the tensile strength and %elongation decreased. The color of the biocomposite films with the lemongrass powder gives a yellow-green shade, while ΔE of biocomposite film increases with a higher content of LE. The addition of LE improved the UV-light resistance properties of biocomposite film which is beneficial as a low %UV transmittance is important to prevent weeds growth. The %UV transmission of biocomposite films was reduced with increasing percentage of LE. Moreover, the biocomposite films after aging found that the color parameter and %UV transmittance only degraded less than 5%. This work, therefore, can be applied to agricultural products such as mulch film, while being biodegradable which could significantly reduce the agriculture plastic waste.

In this contribution the temperature evolution of the constrained or rigid amorphous fraction (RAF) of biodegradable and biocompatible poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) was quantified, after detailed thermodynamic characterization by differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction analysis. At the glass transition temperature, around -40 °C, the rigid amorphous fraction in PBS is about 0.25. It decreases with increasing temperature and becomes zero in proximity of 25 °C. Thus, at room temperature and at the human body temperature, all the amorphous fraction is mobile. This information is important for the development of PBS products for various applications, including biomedical applications, since physical properties of the rigid amorphous fraction, for example mechanical and permeability properties, are different from those of the mobile amorphous fraction.

In this research, polybutylene succinate (PBS) was utilized in the fabrication of pervaporation (PV) membranes, and novel PBS/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) blend membranes were prepared and assessed for the dehydration of acetone. The influence of PVP concentration on membrane morphology, chemical structure, relative hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, and mechanical properties was studied through field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, measurement of water contact angle, and tensile test, respectively. In addition, the thermal properties of the PBS and PBS/PVP membranes were compared via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Finally, membrane swelling was determined, and the performance of the resultant PBS/PVP membranes in dehydration of acetone/water mixture was compared via the determination of acetone and water fluxes, total flux, separation factor, and pervaporation separation index (PSI). The obtained results confirmed the increased hydrophilicity, swelling, and tensile strength of the PBS/PVP blend membranes compared to that of the neat PBS one. Moreover, blending PBS with PVP increased the total flux, separation factor, and PSI of the resultant membranes. Using 3 wt.% PVP in the polymeric solution augmented the mentioned parameters by about 3, 6, and 21 fold, respectively, compared to those of the pure PBS membrane.

In this article, glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was grafted on poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) by virtue of reactive blending in the extrusion process and thermoplastic starch (TPS) was prepared via a melt blend process with anhydroxylitol tripelargonate (AXP) as a bio-based plasticizer and starch as a polymer matrix. A ternary blend of fully biodegradable polymers, namely PBS-g-GMA, thermoplastic starch and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), was successfully fabricated in an attempt to achieve novel entirely biodegradable composites with good comprehensive properties. The mechanical properties, rheological behavior, thermal behavior, crystallization properties and microscopic morphology of PBS-g-GMA/TPS/PBAT composites were investigated in detail. The incorporation of 30 wt% TPS into the PBS-g-GMA/TPS composite promoted a dramatic increase of 47% in the Izod impact strength of the PBS, which indicated that our work proposed an efficient route to fabricate PBS composites with good properties by a simple, eco-friendly, and low-cost processing methodology. DMA results showed that the loss factor of the composite was dependent on the TPS amount, meanwhile, with the increase of PBAT, the glass transition temperature (Tg) was more affected. The change in storage modulus indicates that the addition of TPS can improve the elasticity and the degradation of elastic properties due to the addition of PBAT. Analysis of the rheological results showed that the storage modulus (G′), loss modulus (G′′) and complex viscosity increased significantly with increasing PBAT and TPS amount which could enhance their processability. SEM indicated that PBAT was compatible with the system, and the appearance of particles at a high TPS amount confirmed the occurrence of phase separation.

Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), a biodegradable plastic, is expected to have a huge consumer product market in the near future. In this work, PBS was found to be an excellent source of producing valuable tetrahydrofuran (THF), through a solvent-less catalytic hydrogenolysis process over a Pd/C catalyst. A high THF yield, 59.5 wt%, was achieved via a simple one-pot reaction under mild temperature conditions (240 °C). This technique provides a distinctive but important method for the green production of THF from spent PBS.

Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) has good impact strength and high elongation at break. It is used to toughen biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) materials because it can considerably improve the toughness of PLA without changing the biodegradability of the materials. Therefore, this approach has become a hotspot in the field of biodegradable materials. A review of the physical and chemical modification methods that are applied to improve the performance of PLA/PBS blends based on recent studies is presented in this article. The improvement effect of PLA/PBS blends and the addition of some common fillers on the physical properties and crystallization properties of blends in the physical modification method are summarized briefly. The compatibilizing effects of nanofillers and compatibilizing agents necessary to improve the compatibility and toughness of PLA/PBS blends are described in detail. The chemical modification method involving the addition of reactive polymers and low-molecular-weight compounds to form cross-linked/branched structures at the phase interface during in situ reactions was introduced clearly. The addition of reactive compatibilizing components is an effective strategy to improve the compatibility between PLA and PBS components and further improve the mechanical properties and processing properties of the materials. It has high research value and wide application prospects in the modification of PLA. In addition, the degradation performance of PLA/PBS blends and the methods to improve the degradation performance were briefly summarized, and the development direction of PLA/PBS blends biodegradation performance research was prospected.

Acetylated cellulose nanocrystals (ACNC) were prepared by surface modifying cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) with acetic anhydride (AA). By adding ACNC into biodegradable poly(butylene succinate-co-but...

Dielectric measurements were performed on Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) polymer, Poly(lactic acid)/Poly(butylene succinate) (PLA/PBS) blend matrix and its green composite reinforced with Jute fibers in temperature range from 20 to 140 °C and frequency range from 10−1 Hz to 1 MHz. Thermal analyses based on differential scanning calorimetry technique have evidenced different thermal transitions of the semi-crystalline polymer occurred for PLA one. Addition of PBS into PLA polymer enhanced its crystallinity. However, the presence of Jute fibers in the green composite material lowered such effect and increased the PLA polymer glass transition temperature, Tg. These could be attributed to the PBS contribution into the Jute fibers/blend matrix interactions. Accordingly, dielectric analyses have revealed the presence of three relaxation processes for PLA polymer. These were identified to the α mode relaxation, the dc conductivity effect and the Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars (MWS) interfacial polarization effect. The latter effect was attributed to the accumulation of charges at the crystalline phase/amorphous phase interfaces of PLA polymer. Two additional dielectric relaxations appeared for PLA/PBS blend matrix. These were associated with β relaxation and interfacial polarization effect originating from PLA polymer and the semi-crystalline character of PBS polymer, respectively. The incorporation of Jute fibers into the PLA/PBS blend matrix gave rise to other dielectric relaxations associated with the water dipoles and interfacial (Jute fibers/blend matrix) polarization effects. Analysis of dielectric relaxations at high temperature above the glass transition temperature using the Havriliak–Negami model allowed probing Jute fibers/blend matrix interactions. Adhesion mechanism occurred in the studied green composite was determined by vibrational analysis based on FT-IR technique.

Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)/poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) blends were prepared by melt mixing. The miscibility, morphology, non-isothermal and isothermal crystallization, and rheological and mechanical properties of PBS/PVAc blends were investigated. The blends were a partial miscible two-phase system with PVAc evenly dispersed in the PBS matrix. The incorporation of PVAc accelerated the crystallization rate of PBS due to the heterogeneous nucleation, but decreased the degree of crystallinity. The rheological properties of PBS were greatly improved by the incorporation of PVAc, because of the high viscosity of PVAc in melt state. The most intriguing result was that the stiffness, strength, and toughness could be improved simultaneously by the addition of PVAc. The modulus, breaking strength, and elongation at break of PBS containing 10 wt% PVAc increased by 3.5%, 15.7%, and 43.4%, respectively. The synergetic improvement in the crystallization, rheological, and mechanical properties may be of much importance for widening the application of PBS.

This study examines the influence of cellulose nanocrystal (CN) particles on the morphological, thermal, and thermo-mechanical properties of polylactide (PLA)/poly [(butylene succinate)-co-adipate] (PBSA) blend foams prepared by casting and particulate leaching method using fructose as porogen particles. The morphological analysis showed an interconnected open-cell structure, with porosity above 80%. The crystallinity of the prepared foams was disrupted by the inclusion of CN particles as observed from XRD analyses, which showed a decrease in PLA crystal peak intensity. With regards to neat blend foam, the onset thermal degradation increased with the addition of CN particles, which also increased the thermal stability at 50% weight loss. Furthermore, CN acted as a reinforcing agent in improving the stiffness of the prepared blend foam. Overall, completely environmentally friendly foams were successfully prepared, as a potential material that can replace the current existing foam materials that pose many environmental concerns. However, there is a need to develop an environmentally friendly processing technique.

Suspension polycondensations used to manufacture poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) can be regarded as a type of inverse heterogeneous polymerization technique, as the monomer phase is formed by polar reacting compounds (1,4-butanediol and succinic acid) that are partially soluble in water and require the use of a nonpolar continuous phase in order to form stable suspended droplets. In this context, the main objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of the continuous phase on the kinetic behavior of suspension PBS reactions and the morphological aspects of PBS particles produced through suspension polycondensations. Particularly, renewable soybean oil was used here for the first time as the continuous phase for preparation of PBS microparticles and results were compared to data obtained when paraffin was used as the continuous phase. It is shown that soybean oil can be used successfully as the continuous phase of polycondensations, allowing for production of microparticles with regular spherical morphology and leading to sustainable greener processes, as the constituents of both the continuous and discontinuous phases can be obtained from renewable materials.

Reinforced poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(butylene succinate- co-L-lactate) (PBSL) blend was prepared. Two different fillers namely coconut shell (CS) and rice husk (RH) were used as reinforcement for the PLA-PBSL blend at different filler content (0–10 wt%) and their effects on the blend was investigated. Tensile test results showed that 7.5 wt% filler is the optimum filler loading for both filler types. The comparative performance of composites prepared using the optimum filler loading was further investigated. At the same filler loading, CS performs better than RH in terms of strength, crystallization, and water absorption properties of the blends. Specifically, the tensile strength of CS reinforced blend increased by 195% compared to RH (145%). Likewise, the CS blend has a crystallinity index ( XDSC) of 52% compared to 45% of RH which aligns with observations from the X-ray diffraction analysis. However, thermogravimetric analysis revealed that RH reinforced blend is more thermally stable than CS reinforced blends. This study reveals that the two fillers can desirably enhance the performance of PLA/PBSL blends, especially to produce environmentally friendly products. However, CS could offer better performance over RH especially where better mechanical strength, improved crystallization and low water absorption are desired.

In this study, graphene oxide (GO) was prepared by the modified Hummers’ method and poly(butylene succinate-co-neopentylglycol succinate)/graphene oxide (GO–PBNPGS) nanocomposites were synthesized via in situ polymerization with a series of GO contents (from 0.01 to 0.10 mass%). The GO was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrum, atomic force microscopy and wide-angle X-ray diffractometry. The non-isothermal crystallization kinetics and crystalline morphology of the neat PBNPGS and its nanocomposites were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy (POM), respectively. The results showed that GO was prepared successfully and dispersed in PBNPGS uniformly during the experimental process. The non-isothermal crystallization kinetics was characterized using Avrami equation modified by Jeziorny. The experimental results indicated that the non-isothermal crystallization behavior of the GO–PBNPGS was influenced by the GO content and cooling rate, the crystallization rate first increased and then decreased with an increase in GO content. Therefore, it was expected that the GO could accelerate the crystallization process. POM observations indicated that GO served as an effective nucleating agent for the crystallization of GO–PBNPGS when 0.10 mass% GO was added, and 0.05 mass% GO in PBNPGS had the largest spherulites and the lowest nucleation ability. In addition, the experimental data also showed that the biodegradation rate increased with the increasing of GO content, with a significant rate of degradation occurring in the composite sample with 0.10 mass% GO content.

Mineral fillers have always been used in engineered polymers to reduce the cost, promote the thermal and dimensional stability of the material, and contain its shrinkage and deformations generated by the conversion processes. Compounds based on compostable polymers are normally characterized by the presence of high levels of mineral fillers (up to 30 %), although mineral fillers with a limited ability to incorporate moisture are preferred. The bioplastic compounds are, in fact, based mainly on bio-derived polyesters, highly sensitive to hydrolytic degradation at high temperatures. Therefore, in the design of bioplastic compounds, the moisture content is kept strictly under control to avoid the onset of degradation mechanisms. Calcium carbonate is, however, the cheapest mineral filler and is broadly available on the market. It is the most widely used mineral filler in the design of engineered polymers based on polyolefins and polystyrenes. However, the use of calcium carbonate in the bioplastic compound segment is severely limited by the hygroscopicity of the carbonate. In this context, the use of calcium carbonate was studied, as a reinforcement element of binary blends between polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene succinate (PBS). In particular, the role of the percentage of the mineral filler on the absorption of moisture in the compound has been studied. The thermo-rheological properties of the compound were also evaluated. Finally, the processability of the compound was studied in the thermoforming process of containers suitable for food contact on a prototype system (machine - mold), specifically designed to transform polyolefins. Experimental results have shown that a correct design of the bioplastic compound, even in the presence of a highly hygroscopic filler, can allow the development of a material suitable for the thermoforming process, without the need to make changes to the conversion plant and to the mold.

In this study, the disintegration of poly(butylene succinate)(PBS) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) under landfill conditions was investigated. Both polymers were melted, injected into a dumbbell-shape, and buried under the soil for 20 weeks. The morphology of the polymer from the scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed that, after 6 weeks of the burial, the PBS polymer produced many micro-voids in the bulk of polymer. The amount of the voids increased with time. While the morphology of PLA showed a few voids and some cracks during the degradation process. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the PLA were decreased after 2 weeks following with PBS after 4 weeks of the burial times. The weight loss and the water uptake of PBS and PLA were slightly increased. From the result, it was found that the degradation of PBS and PLA proceeds via random chain scission of the ester bond through bulk erosion mechanism. The degradation of PLA degraded faster than the PBS due to the low crystallinity in the polymer chain. This result can be applied to the design waste management of biodegradable polymer products.

A statistical model based on genetic programming was developed to study the solubility of CO2 in different polymers including polystyrene, poly(vinyl acetate), polybutylene succinate and poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate). The proposed genetic model can predict the CO2 solubility with the average relative deviation of 0.095, 0.0503, 0.0312, 0.039% and R2 values of greater than 0.98. The results showed efficient applicability of the model and its outperformance in predicting the CO2 solubility compared with other modeling approaches. Therefore, the proposed model contributes to enhancing better understanding of gas/polymer systems and aids in alleviating the difficulties arising in the prediction of gas solubilities during the design and optimization of the relevant processes.

Considering the current context of research aiming at proposing new bioplastics with low costs and properties similar to fossil-based commodities currently on the market, in the present work, a hybrid blend containing a prevalent amount of cheap inedible cereal flour (70 wt %) and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) (30 wt %) has been prepared by a simple, eco-friendly, and low-cost processing methodology. In order to improve the interfacial tension and enhance the adhesion between the different phases at the solid state, with consequent improvement in microstructure uniformity and in material mechanical and adhesive performance, the PBS fraction in the blend was replaced with variable amounts (0-25 wt %) of PBS-based green copolymer, which exerted the function of a compatibilizer. The copolymer is characterized by an ad hoc chemical structure, containing six-carbon aliphatic rings, also present in the flour starch structure. The two synthetic polyesters obtained through two-stage melt polycondensation have been deeply characterized from the molecular, thermal, and mechanical points of view. Copolymerization deeply impacts the polymer final properties, the crystallizing ability, and stiffness of the PBS homopolymer being reduced. Also, the prepared ternary blends were deeply investigated in terms of microstructure, thermal, and mechanical properties. Lastly, both pure blend components and ternary blends were subjected to disintegration experiments under composting conditions. The results obtained proved how effective was the compatibilizer action of the copolymer, as evidenced by the investigation conducted on morphology and mechanical properties. Specifically, the mixtures with 15 and 20 wt % Co appeared to be characterized by the best mechanical performance, showing a progressive increase of deformation while preserving good values of elastic modulus and stress. The disintegration rate in compost was found to be higher for the lower amount of copolymer in the ternary blend. However, after 90 days of incubation, the blend richest in copolymer content lost 62% of weight.

In this mini-review, the effect of random and block copolymerization on crystallization and properties of biodegradable poly(butylene succinate) is outlined. For random copolymerization, the effect of minor co-monomers can be divided into two categories: In most of the cases, the minor co-monomer units will be excluded from the crystal lattice of the major monomer units, which leads to the decreased melting point, lower crystallinity and slower crystallization kinetics. Consequently, the copolymers will be more flexible. Copolymerization with other aliphatic units results in enhanced biodegradation rate, while copolymerization with aromatic units may depress the biodegradation rate. There is an exceptional case, e.g. in poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene fumarate), where the co-monomer units can cocrystallize with the major monomer units in the whole range of copolymer composition, resulting in almost invariant degree of crystallinity. Whether some content of co-monomer units is included in the crystal lattice of the major monomer units or not is still an open question and deserves further study. Furthermore, block copolymerization is an alternative option to tune the properties, which may open a new window for designing biodegradable polymers, especially thermoplastic elastomers. Block and multiblock copolymers combine the properties of the different blocks and the crystallization behavior depends on the block length and miscibility of the blocks. When the block length is large enough, the melting point of such block will not vary much with its content, which is distinctly different from the random copolymers. Incorporation of more hydrophilic blocks, such as aliphatic polyethers will considerably enhance the hydrolytic degradation rate.

We report an environmentally friendly resistive switching memory device on a biodegradable Ecoflex elastomeric substrate using nontoxic and disintegrable polyfluorene/poly(butylene succinate) (PFN/...

This work was focused on the effects of filler concentration on the antibacterial activity and biodegradable behavior of poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) composite films containing silver exchanged zeolite ZSM-5 (SZSM-5). The composite films were prepared by chill roll cast film extrusion, by varying the silver zeolite content from 0.5 to 4 %wt. The silver content in zeolite was examined by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The morphology and crystal structure of silver zeolite were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique, respectively. The incorporation of silver did not influence the zeolite morphology and its crystal structure. The antibacterial action of composite films was investigated against gram-negative Escherichia coli and gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. The results revealed that the PBS composite films containing SZSM-5 showed 99.9% of bacterial reduction. The optimal SZSM-5 content in PBS composite films was 0.5%wt because it was the lowest concentration that showed high efficiency of antibacterial behavior. In case of biodegradable ability, PBS composite films incorporated with 0.5%wt of SZSM-5 exhibited the degradation after three-month of soil burial test, although they exhibited slower rate than neat PBS films. The SEM micrographs of the films after soil burial test displayed the cavity on film surface, indicating the biodegradable properties of the films. PBS composite films incorporated with 0.5%wt of SZSM-5 showed the potential to be used as the food packaging.

Poly (butylene succinate-co-butylene-3-hydroxyphenylphosphinyl-propionate) (PBSH) was synthesized through polycondensation. Then, 4,4′-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) was introduced into PBSH matrix by reactive blending. The chemical structure and properties of the blending products were investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), limiting oxygen index (LOI) tests, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and vertical burning tests. The results proved that MDI can improve the mechanical properties and flame retardancy of PBSH. In addition, it was found that the crosslinking structure can reduce the hydrolysis rate of PBSH and effectively eliminate the melt-dripping of PBSH during combustion.

Poly(butylene succinate) (PBSu) and poly(ethylene adipate) (PEA), isomeric to each other, are mixed in a miscible state, and PBSu crystallized at Tc’s where PEA is kept at a molten state. PBSu upon...

Sustainable, biodegradable and thermoplastic processable aliphatic polyesters (polybutylene succinate (PBS) and polyethylene succinate (PES)) were prepared and characterized; then, they were grafted onto cellulose micro-fibers using a simple click reaction. This modification was conducted under simple experimental conditions. The characterization (NMR and FTIR analysis), thermal properties, solubility, morphology and biodegradation process of the all products prepared were established and studied. The results show that the solubility of the prepared derivatives is improved in comparison with cellulose, while their thermal stability showed a slight decrease compared to the starting materials. The composites derived from the modified cellulose show a slight decrease in their biodegradability in comparison with that of unmodified cellulose due to several parameters.

Fungi play an important role in the degradation of biodegradable plastics (BPs) in soil. However, little is known about their dynamics in the soil during the degradation of BPs. We studied the community dynamics of BP-degrading fungi during poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA) film degradation in two different types of soils using culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. The Fluvisol and the Andosol soils degrade embedded PBSA films at high and low speeds, respectively. The number of PBSA emulsion-degrading fungi that increased in the Fluvisol soil was higher than that in the Andosol soil after embedding with PBSA films. We succeeded in detecting internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) regions those matched that of the fungi by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) in both soils. Our results suggest that fungal community analyses using PCR-DGGE in combination with BP degraders isolation techniques enables the monitoring of BP films-degrading fungi. Monitoring fungal population dynamics during the degradation of films comprising poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) in a Fluvisol and an Andosol soil.

This work studied the biodegradative activity of Pseudomonas geniculata WS3 and Stenotrophomonas pavanii CH1, PLA-degrading bacteria, on films with different ratios of polybutylene succinate (PBS)/polylactic acid (PLA), in submerged cultures. Effects of PBS, dicumyl peroxide (DCP) and 2-hydroxypropyl-3-piperazinyl quinoline carboxylic acid methacrylate (HPQM) of in situ compatibilized PBS/PLA blends were also examined under soil burial biodegradation at mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. The results from the submerged experiments showed that the weight loss of PBS/PLA blends increased with increasing PBS content. All blending ratios of PBS/PLA were more degraded by P. geniculata WS3 than S. pavanii CH1. After soil burial, PBS/PLA films with 40/60 wt% showed higher biodegradation than those with 20/80 wt% with or without P. geniculata WS3 inoculation. However, the biodegradation of PBS/PLA blends inoculated with P. geniculata WS3 was higher than that of the uninoculated treatment. The addition of DCP in PBS/PLA blends decreased the biodegradation and weight loss. Unexpectedly, the degree of biodegradation and weight loss of PBS/PLA at a ratio of 20/80 wt% with DCP added were higher than that of PBS/PLA at a ratio of 40/60 wt% with DCP added. The addition of HPQM, showing antibacterial properties, decreased the biodegradation of PBS/PLA blends by 1.4 to 1.8-fold compared to those without HPQM addition. It could be concluded that the inoculation of P. geniculata WS3 mainly promoted the biodegradation of PBS/PLA blends under mesophilic condition. However, the addition of DCP and HPQM decreased the biodegradation of the PBS/PLA blends.

Green biodegradable thermoplastic natural rubber based on epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) blends was prepared via simple blend (SB) or via dynamic vulcanization (DV). Influence of blend proportions of ENR and PBS on morphological, dynamic, mechanical, dynamic mechanical, thermal properties, and water absorption together with biodegradability were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were also used to assess phase morphologies in the ENR/PBS blends. It was found that the ENR/PBS simple blend had co-continuous phase structure, while the dynamically cured ENR/PBS blend (DV) has spherical micron-sized crosslinked ENR particles dispersed in the PBS matrix. In addition, the particle size of vulcanized ENR domains of DV and the grain size of ENR and PBS phases in the simple blend decreased with increasing PBS content up to 50 wt%. This might be caused by interfacial adhesion effects between the phases. However, increasing the ENR fraction to 70 wt% caused increasing of elasticity in terms of shear viscosity, shear modulus, storage modulus, together with elongation at break, and tension set. It was also found that mechanical and thermal properties as well as biodegradability of dynamically cured ENR/PBS blends were better than for the simple blend counterparts, That is, the lowest biodegradability, as indicated by the least weight loss, is seen for the 50/50 ENR-25/PBS simple blend (about 1.2%) and dynamic vulcanizate (about 0.6%).

Lignin (LIG) is a renewable biopolymer with well-known antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. In the present work LIG was combined with poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), a biocompatible/biodegradable polymer, to obtain composites with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Hot melt extrusion was used to prepare composites containing up to 15% (w/w) of LIG. Water contact angle measurements suggested that the incorporation of LIG did not alter the wettability of the material. The material density increased slightly when LIG was incorporated (, Highlights • Lignin/Poly(butylene succinate) composites were prepared using hot melt extrusion. • The composites containing up to 15% of lignin. • The presence of lignin in the composite did not alter significantly their mechanical properties. • Lignin-containing composites showed antioxidant activity. • Lignin-containing composites showed resistance to Staphylococcus aureus adherence.

Sustainable synthesis of pharmaceuticals is one of the main challenges for the pharmaceutical industry. Production of these compounds from plastic waste can provide an innovative and ecological approach to their sustainable synthesis. In this context, plastic waste can be regarded as a potential cheap resource for the production of compounds of interest to the pharmaceutical industry. In this work, the first methodologies for the reductive depolymerization of poly(4-hydroxybutyrate) (P4HB) and polybutylene succinate (PBS) plastic waste are reported using the catalyst systems MoO2Cl2(H2O)2/silane, MoO2Cl2(H2O)2/borane and KOH/PhSiH3 with moderate to excellent yields. We also developed the first synthetic strategy for the synthesis of a drug, the anticancer busulfan, from P4HB and PBS plastic waste with moderate overall yields.

International audience; A new strategy was developed for the fabrication of intumescent flame retardant system to improve the fire performance of polybutylene succinate (PBS) based on the synergistic effect of ethylenediamine phosphate (EDAP) and melamine poly(aluminum phosphate) (MPAlP) as well as zinc borate (ZnB). Cone calorimetry results exhibited that, with only 10 wt.% total loading of additives, the peak heat release rate (pHRR) and total heat release (THR) of PBS/EDAP&MPAlP(7:3, 8%)/ZnB(2%) were significantly reduced by 63% and 13%, respectively, in comparison to PBS. Meanwhile, the fire growth rate index (FIGRA) and maximum average rate of heat emission (MARHE) were decreased by 43% and 48% respectively, and its flameout time reached up to 840 s from 493 s for neat PBS. It should be noted that solid-state MAS NMR (11B, 13C, 27Al, and 31P) technique provided information to determine chemistry in the condensed phase during combustion. It was evidenced that the combination of EDAP/MPAlP and ZnB led to the formation of a protective intumescent char embedded with highly thermally stable phosphate species (e.g., boron phosphate and zinc phosphate). They improved the cohesion (crack-free) and stability as well as the resistance of the char, thus improving the fire retardancy of PBS. Additionally, PBS/EDAP&MPAlP(7:3,8%)/ZnB(2%) showed low smoke emission and good thermal/mechanical properties, thanks to the introduction of zinc borate. As a result, this work provides a new perspective for the development of new intumescent flame retardant systems toward PBS.

Little is known about how the strength of biodegradable polymers changes during decomposition. This study investigated the changes in the tensile properties of polybutylene succinate (PBS) and basalt-fiber (BF)-reinforced PBS (PBS-BF) composite sheets during degradation in bacterial solutions. Seven days after the start of the experiment, the elongation at break of the PBS specimens decreased significantly, and the PBS-BF composite specimens were characterized by barely any change in ultimate tensile strength (UTS) after immersion in the bacteria-free medium for 7 and 56 days. Meanwhile, when immersed in the bacterial solution, the UTS of the PBS-BF composite specimens showed a tendency to decrease after 7 days. After 56 days, the UTS decreased to about half of its value immediately after fabrication. The degradation of the material was attributed to infiltration of the bacterial solution into structurally weak areas, causing decomposition throughout the material.

Lignin has many potential applications and is a biopolymer with a three-dimensional network structure. It is composed of three phenylpropane units, p-hydroxyphenyl, guaiacyl, and syringyl, connected by ether bonds and carbon–carbon bonds, and it contains a large number of phenol or aldehyde structural units, resulting in complex lignin structures. This limits the application of lignin. To expand the application range of lignin, we prepared lignin thermoplastic phenolic resins (LPRs) by using lignin instead of phenol; these LPRs had molecular weights of up to 1917 g/mol, a molecular weight distribution of 1.451, and an O/P value of up to 2.73. Due to the complex structure of the lignin, the synthetic lignin thermoplastic phenolic resins were not very tough, which greatly affected the performance of the material. If the lignin phenolic resins were toughened, their application range would be substantially expanded. Polybutylene succinate (PBS) has excellent processability and excellent mechanical properties. The toughening effects of different PBS contents in the LPRs were investigated. PBS was found to be compatible with the LPRs, and the flexible chain segments of the small PBS molecules were embedded in the molecular chain segments of the LPRs, thus reducing the crystallinities of the LPRs. The good compatibility between the two materials promoted hydrogen bond formation between the PBS and LPRs. Rheological data showed good interfacial bonding between the materials, and the modulus of the high-melting PBS made the LPRs more damage resistant. When PBS was added at 30%, the tensile strength of the LPRs was increased by 2.8 times to 1.65 MPa, and the elongation at break increased by 31 times to 93%. This work demonstrates the potential of lignin thermoplastic phenolic resins for industrial applications and provides novel concepts for toughening biobased aromatic resins with PBS.

The natural abundance, polymer stability, biodegradability, and natural antimicrobial properties of lignin open a wide range of potential applications aiming for sustainability. In this work, the effects of 1% (w/w) softwood kraft lignin nanoparticles (SLNPs) on the physicochemical properties of polybutylene succinate (PBS) composite films were investigated. Incorporation of SLNPs into neat PBS enhanced Td from 354.1 °C to 364.7 °C, determined through TGA, whereas Tg increased from −39.1 °C to −35.7 °C while no significant change was observed in Tm and crystallinity, analyzed through DSC. The tensile strength of neat PBS increased, to 35.6 MPa, when SLNPs were added to it. Oxygen and water vapor permeabilities of PBS with SLNPs decreased equating to enhanced barrier properties. The good interactions among SLNPs, thymol, and PBS matrix, and the high homogeneity of the resultant PBS composite films, were determined through FTIR and FE-SEM analyses. This work revealed that, among the PBS composite films tested, PBS + 1% SLNPs + 10% thymol showed the strongest microbial growth inhibition against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Lasiodiplodia theobromae, both in vitro, through a diffusion method assay, and in actual testing on active packaging of mango fruit (cultivar “Nam Dok Mai Si Thong”). SLNPs could be an attractive replacement for synthetic substances for enhancing polymer properties without compromising the biodegradability of the resultant material, and for providing antimicrobial functions for active packaging applications.

This work was dedicated to the development of new flame retarded systems toward polybutylene succinate (PBS) based on the concept of intumescence. In order to obtain highly efficient flame retarded PBS formulations, intumescent PBS formulations were prepared and examined. The fire behavior of the formulations was evaluated using the mass loss cone calorimeter (MLCC) to screen the efficiency of the intumescent systems. The results showed that the combination of ethylenediamine phosphate (EDAP) and zinc borate (ZnB) in a ratio of 8:2 (10% loading) led to a significant improvement in flame retardancy of PBS in terms of pHRR (57% reduction). Moreover, for PBS/S200&EDAP/ZnB, MLCC results indicated that introducing 8 wt.% melamine poly(aluminum phosphate) (S200) and EDAP (ratio of 3:7) as well as 2 wt.% zinc borate into PBS significantly enhanced the fire performance of PBS. To gain insight into the mechanism of actions, the role of zinc borate on intumescence (char formation) and flame retardancy of PBS was investigated in the gas phase and condensed phase using numerous techniques, such as mass loss cone calorimeter coupled with Fourier transform infrared (MLCC-FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier transform infrared (TGA-FTIR), and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). It was concluded that, for PBS/EDAP/ZnB formulation, the combination of EDAP and zinc borate promoted the formation of a crack-free zinc-boron phosphates reinforcing the intumescent char and providing good cohesion and stability. This protective char layer effectively limited the reaction to fire by retarding the release of flammable pyrolysis products, and hence enhancing the flame retardancy of the PBS. As for investigation of the mode of action of PBS/S200&EDAP/ZnB formulation, it was confirmed that a condensed phase flame retardant mechanism was established through the formation of a crack-free protective intumescent char layer with high thermal stability and good cohesion during combustion. The formed intumescent char acted as a physical barrier retarding the transfer of heat and mass (fuel) between condensed and gas phases. Further, the NMR (11B, 13C, 27Al, and 31P) analyses indicated that the introduction of zinc borate promoted the formation of a protective intumescent char embedded with highly thermally stable inorganic species (boron-aluminum-zinc phosphates), which provided additional resistance and stability to the char, thus enhancing the flame retardancy of material.; Ce travail a été consacré au développement de nouveaux systèmes ignifugés vers le polybutylène succinate (PBS) basés sur le concept d'intumescence. Afin d'obtenir des formulations de PBS ignifugées hautement efficaces, des formulations de PBS intumescentes ont été préparées et examinées. Le comportement au feu des formulations a été évalué à l'aide du calorimètre à cône à perte de masse (MLCC) pour évaluer l'efficacité des systèmes intumescents. Les résultats ont montré que la combinaison de phosphate d'éthylènediamine (EDAP) et de borate de zinc (ZnB) dans un rapport de 8:2 (10% de charge) a conduit à une amélioration significative de l'ignifugation du PBS en termes de pHRR (réduction de 57%). De plus, pour PBS/S200&EDAP/ZnB, les résultats du MLCC ont indiqué que l'introduction de 8 % en poids de poly(phosphate d'aluminium) de mélamine (S200) et d'EDAP (rapport de 3:7) ainsi que de 2 % en poids de borate de zinc dans le PBS a considérablement amélioré la comportement au feu du PBS. Pour mieux comprendre le mécanisme d'action, le rôle du borate de zinc sur l'intumescence (formation de char) et l'ignifugation du PBS a été étudié en phase gazeuse et en phase condensée à l'aide de nombreuses techniques, telles que le calorimètre à cône à perte de masse couplé à l'infrarouge à transformée de Fourier (MLCC-FTIR), analyse thermogravimétrique couplée à l'infrarouge à transformée de Fourier (TGA-FTIR) et à la résonance magnétique nucléaire (RMN) à l'état solide. Il a été conclu que, pour la formulation PBS/EDAP/ZnB, la combinaison d'EDAP et de borate de zinc favorisait la formation de phosphates de zinc-bore sans fissure renforçant le charbon intumescent et procurant une bonne cohésion et stabilité. Cette couche de carbonisation protectrice a efficacement limité la réaction au feu en retardant la libération de produits de pyrolyse inflammables, et donc en améliorant le caractère ignifuge du PBS.En ce qui concerne l'étude du mode d'action de la formulation PBS/S200&EDAP/ZnB, il a été confirmé qu'un mécanisme ignifuge en phase condensée a été établi par la formation d'une couche de charbon intumescente protectrice sans fissure avec une stabilité thermique élevée et une bonne cohésion pendant la combustion. Le charbon intumescent formé a agi comme une barrière physique retardant le transfert de chaleur et de masse (combustible) entre les phases condensée et gazeuse. De plus, les analyses RMN (11B, 13C, 27Al et 31P) ont indiqué que l'introduction de borate de zinc a favorisé la formation d'un charbon intumescent protecteur enrobé d'espèces inorganiques hautement thermiquement stables (phosphates de bore-aluminium-zinc), qui ont fourni une résistance supplémentaire et la stabilité au charbon, améliorant ainsi l'ignifugation du matériau.

Melt electrospinning is a polymer processing technology for the manufacture of microfibers and nanofibers. Additives are required to reduce the melt viscosity and increase its conductivity in order to minimize the fiber diameter, and can also impart additional beneficial properties. We investigated the preparation of polybutylene succinate (PBS) microfibers incorporating different weight percentages of two multifunctional additives (the organic dye curcumin and inorganic silver nanoparticles) using a single-nozzle laboratory-scale device. We determined the influence of these additives on the polymer melt viscosity, electrical conductivity, degradation profile, thermal behavior, fiber diameter, and antibacterial activity. The formation of a Taylor cone followed by continuous fiber deposition was observed for compounds containing up to 3% (w/w) silver nanoparticles and up to 10% (w/w) curcumin, the latter achieving the minimum average fiber diameter of 12.57 µm. Both additives reduced the viscosity and increased the electrical conductivity of the PBS melt, and also retained their specific antibacterial properties when compounded and spun into fibers. This is the first report describing the effect of curcumin and silver nanoparticles on the properties of PBS fibers manufactured using a single-nozzle melt-electrospinning device. Our results provide the basis to develop environmentally benign antibacterial melt-electrospun PBS fibers for biomedical applications.

Background: Polybutylene succinate (PBS) is a type of biodegradable polymers that have gained considerable attention among scholars as a great completion has been observed worldwide to find alternatives to petroleum-based polymeric materials. Methods: A modified clay was used in preparing nanocomposites for the PBS/Corn starch mixture. Nanocomposites were prepared by 0.5-5 percent of HDA-MMT being integrated. An X-ray diffraction technique (XRD) was employed to characterize the modifier’s interaction in the clay layer. To the nanocomposites to be synthesized, a solution was used to cast off the modified clay and (PBS)/Corn starch) blend. Results: The nanocomposites production was verified by XRD and transmission electron microscopy. Conclusion: Modified clay nanocomposites (PBS/Corn starch) demonstrate higher thermal stability and substantial improvement in contrast to the PBS/Corn starch blend.