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This study focused on the development and optimization of thermoplastic starch (TPS) and poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) biobased active packaging films by incorporation with grape seed oil, alpha‐tocopherol, and rice husk. In the compound and film production step during extrusion for biobased active packaging film two variables, the antioxidant substance concentration (Grape seed oil, 0.5–4%; alpha‐tocopherol, 0.5–4%; rice husk, 1–5%), TPS concentration (60–90%) were optimized through response surface methodology (RSM) for highest tensile strength (MPa) and antioxidant activity (%) as responses. Among the resulting films, samples containing grape seed oil in particular exhibited an optimal balance, showcasing robust mechanical properties alongside potent antioxidant characteristics. Comprehensive analyses encompassing thickness, density, color, opacity, FTIR spectroscopy, total phenolic content, and energy consumption were conducted to assess the films' viability for potential deployment within the food industry. Based on the findings, it was determined that these biobased active packaging films made of TPS/PBAT held promise in safeguarding food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly[(butylene adipate)‐co‐terephthalate] (PBAT) is currently the most widely used and versatile petroleum‐based fully biodegradable polyester, drawing extensive attention from researchers. However, the high production cost of PBAT restricts its widespread application. Currently, incorporating fillers into PBAT materials is considered the most effective approach to reduce production costs, with thermoplastic starch recognized as the optimal filler for PBAT base materials. Nevertheless, the low mechanical strength of thermoplastic starch significantly compromises the performance of PBAT base materials. In this study, thermoplastic starch with higher mechanical strength was prepared by partially substituting commonly used glycerol with a higher molecular weight sorbitol as the plasticizer. The enhanced thermoplastic starch was then used as a filler for PBAT materials, leading to the fabrication of PBAT‐based blend films with high starch content. Mechanical property tests revealed a 52.2% and 65.3% increase of tensile strength in the transverse and longitudinal directions, respectively, when sorbitol partially replaced glycerol as the plasticizer for thermoplastic starch. Scanning electron microscopy results demonstrated improved dispersion of thermoplastic starch particles in PBAT when sorbitol and glycerol were used together. Meanwhile, the thermal performance and stability of PBAT were not significantly affected by the thermoplastic starch filling. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advancement of society, the issue of oil pollution is escalating, therefore we propose a straightforward and efficient approach for fabricating fully biodegradable poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) foams with exceptional selective oil-absorption capabilities through the integration of melt blending and supercritical CO2 (scCO2) foaming techniques. The PLA90 foams, activated at 11 MPa and temperatures ranging from 105 ℃ to 110 ℃, exhibit an expansion ratio of 44 and a highly interconnected open-cell structure with an open-cell content exceeding 80%, effectively mitigating cell shrinkage occurrences. The 105 ℃-triggered PLA90 foam displays pronounced lipophilicity/hydrophobicity, accelerated oil-absorption kinetics, and elevated oil-absorption capacity. Specifically, the equilibrium absorption capacities for cyclohexane and silicone are 12.8 g/g and 20.1 g/g, respectively. Moreover, the maximum absorption capacity decline rate for silicone oil stands at a mere 13.4% over 10 absorption–desorption cycles. The findings presented in this study establish a theoretical framework and offer empirical evidence to support the development of fully biodegradable, high-performance, and reusable oil-absorption materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) is an important biodegradable copolymer, but its crystallization rate is slow. Herein, the effect of self‐nucleation on the crystallization behavior of PBAT with initially different crystalline modifications (melt‐crystallized specimens and as‐received pellets) was investigated. The melt‐crystallized and as‐received PBAT specimens are confirmed as the α‐ and β‐form, respectively. It is found that the self‐nucleation domains of β‐form PBAT are almost the same as those of α‐form one. After self‐nucleation, the maximum shift of the crystallization peak toward higher temperature is around 60 °C upon the followed cooling process, suggesting that self‐nucleation remarkably promotes PBAT crystallization. The self‐nucleation temperature span of self‐nucleation domain is about 10 °C, which provides substantial benefits to industrial processing. Moreover, for both the initial α‐ and β‐form PBAT, the final crystal is α‐form after self‐nucleation treatment. This work demonstrates that self‐nucleation is highly effective in enhancing PBAT crystallization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work describes the synthesis of poly(butylene succinate) (PBSu)-cutin copolymers by the two-stage melt polycondensation method, esterification and polycondensation. Cutin was added in four different concentrations, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 wt%, in respect to succinic acid. The obtained copolymers were studied using a variety of techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), polarized light microscopy (PLM), as well as diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). A series of results, in agreement between different techniques, revealed the formation of PBSu-cutin interactions, confirming indirectly the successful in situ synthetic route of copolymers. DSC and XRD combined with PLM results provided indications that the crystallization temperature increases with the addition of small amounts of cutin and gradually decreases with increasing concentration. The crystallization process was easier and faster at 2.5%, 5%, and 10% concentrations, whereas at 20%, it was comparable to neat PBSu. The presence of cutin, in general, leads to the facilitated crystallizability of PBSu (direct effect), whereas a moderate drop in the glass transition temperature is recorded, the latter being an indirect effect of cutin via crystallization. The thermal stability improved in the copolymers compared to neat PBSu. Water contact angle measurements confirmed that the addition of cutin decreased the hydrophilicity. The local and segmental relaxation mapping is demonstrated for PBSu/cutin here for the first time. Enzymatic hydrolysis and soil degradation tests showed that, overall, cutin accelerated the decomposition of the polymers. The copolymers may be proven useful in several applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two biodegradable polyesters, poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and poly(butylene succinate‐co‐adipate) (PBSA), were artificially aged in a UV irradiation test chamber, and their photodegradation behaviors investigated. The attenuated total reflection (ATR) infrared (IR) spectra of the initial and UV‐aged samples revealed conformational changes in the tetramethylene sequences of the photoaged PBS and PBSA. The one‐dimensional wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS) profiles showed that the (110) d‐spacing of the α‐form crystal progressively decreased during UV aging, suggesting that the crystalline polymer chains became arranged more closely along the fiber axis. Accordingly, we conclude that PBS and PBSA transform from their TGTGT to nearly TTTTT conformations upon photoaging. The observed WAXS, small‐angle X‐ray scattering, and IR spectral data suggest that photodegradation preferentially occurs in the amorphous phase of each polymer. The less crystallizable butylene adipate co‐unit enhances the degradability of PBSA, with prolonged photooxidation leading to partial degradation of the crystalline region of the copolymer. This finding is consistent with and may be linked to the higher biodegradability of PBSA compared to PBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a series of biodegradable poly(butylene alkylene carboxylate‐co‐terephthalate) copolymers with varying methylene numbers in the alkylene units (0, 2, 4, and 8) are synthesized. These copolymers, namely, poly(butylene oxalate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBOT), poly(butylene succinate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBST), poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT), and poly(butylene sebacate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBSeT), are prepared with nearly identical structural and molar compositions. The objective of this study is to comprehensively examine the impact of alkylene unit length on the barrier properties of the materials, delving into aspects such as crystallinity, free volume, molecular chain mobility, as well as adsorption and diffusion of gases within the materials. The findings indicate a decrease in crystallinity from 17.2% for PBOT to 10.2% for PBSeT as the alkylene chain length increases, while maintaining the same chemical composition. Concurrently, the fractional free volume increases from 0.9% to 2.6%, and the melt flow activation energy decreases from 106.6 to 52.1 kJ mol−1. Importantly, theoretical calculations are performed, demonstrating that the predominant site for gas adsorption and diffusion is within the material's free volume. These combined observations indicate a gradual decrease in barrier properties as the number of methylene groups increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a series of poly(butylene succinate)-based copolymers containing various quantities of dimethyl 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate (NDC) were synthesized via melt polymerization. The thermal stabilities of the copolymers were maintained, while a slight increment in the stability was observed as the NDC content increased. The results of differential scanning calorimetry and wide-angle X-ray diffraction demonstrated a reduction in the crystallizability of the copolymers with increasing NDC concentration. Unexpectedly, the tensile tests showed significant enhancement of the elongation rate from 122.5 to 2645.0% as the NDC content increased from 0 to 32 mol%. Samples with 28, 30, and 32 mol% NDC showed remarkable abilities with recovery rates above 90% after three test cycles. Moreover, apparent cut mark repairing behaviors were observed under 70 °C heating in samples containing 25, 28, and 30 mol% NDC. These results indicate the potential of the copolymers for self-healing and highly stretchable shape memory wound dressing material applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the glass transition temperature and ultraviolet shielding properties of poly(butylene 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylate) (PBTF), a series of poly(butylene 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylate-co-butylene 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylate) (PBTFBs) were synthesized from 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylic acid (TDCA), 1,4-butanediol (BDO), and dimethyl 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylate (BDD). The composition and molecular weights of PBTFBs were investigated by 1H NMR,.13C NMR and GPC. The results showed that the glass transition temperature of PBTFBs gradually increased, and the thermogravimetric analysis results also showed that the thermal stability gradually increased with increasing the BDD content. Compared with PBTF, the polyester with 40% butylene 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylate unit (PBTFB40) showed a higher Young's modulus (1166.8 MPa) and tensile strength (25.8 MPa). In addition, the ultraviolet (UV) shielding ability of PBTF was greatly enhanced, and the UV transmittance at 350 nm decreased from 19.66% (PBTF) to 6.22% (PBTFB30). The average transmittance at wavelengths of 320–400 nm decreased from 26.25 to 15.20%. The gas permeability coefficient of CO2 decreased from 0.3120 barrer to 0.0321 barrer. Because the biphenyl structure was successfully introduced into PBTF, the rigidity of the chain segment was improved, and excellent thermal stability, mechanical properties and UV shielding properties were obtained. PBTFB30 has potential application in outdoor products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a novel unsaturated polyester, polybutylene fumarate (PBF), a series of sulfonated proton exchange membranes were prepared and characterized for direct methanol fuel cell application. In this work, PBF underwent sulfonation at different degrees, and the optimum degree of sulfonation (DS) was identified by assessing the hydrolytic stability. In the second step, an effective strategy to enhance the membranes' proton conductivity was adopted by the addition of the 2‐(1H‐Imidazol‐2‐yl) acetic acid (Im‐COOH) compound as a proton‐conducting agent to the sulfonated PBF (SPBF) matrix with the optimum DS. The results unveiled significant alterations in the physicochemical properties of PBF due to sulfonation, including an elevation in water uptake and the glass transition temperature (Tg), accompanied by the disappearance of the crystallinity within SPBF. In terms of electrochemical characteristics, the SPBF‐17.5 PEM demonstrated a proton conductivity of 3.36 × 10−3 S cm−1 and a methanol permeability of 1.068 × 10−7 cm2 s−1, yielding a selectivity of approximately 31,460 S s cm−3. Furthermore, the attractive interactions between SO3H and NH groups further elevated proton conductivity to 4.12 × 10−3 S cm−1, accompanied by a decrease in methanol permeability to 0.942 × 10−7 cm2 s−1, enhancing the selectivity parameter to 43,736 S s cm−3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, two green extraction methods are explored to valorize rice straw into cellulose fibers (CFs), namely subcritical water extraction (SWE) and combined ultrasound‐heating treatment (USHT). The resultant fibers are, thereafter, successfully pretreated with (3‐glycidyloxypropyl) trimethoxysilane (GPS) and incorporated at 3% wt into poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) by melt‐mixing. The green composites are shaped into films by thermo‐compression and characterized in terms of their performance for food packaging applications. The chemical analysis of the fibers reveals that SWE is more effective to selectively remove hemicelluloses than USHT, whereas silanization promotes the removal of lignin in both fiber types. Fiber incorporation, more notably in the case of the silanized fibers, restricts the movement of the PBS chains, indicating good interaction with the biopolyester matrix. In particular, CFs act as antinucleating agents in PBS, delaying both glass transition and crystallization from the melt phenomena and hindering crystal formation. Furthermore, the fibers mechanically reinforce and improve the oxygen barrier of the PBS films. The highest barrier enhancement is obtained for the thermo‐compressed composite film with silanized fibers obtained by SWE, yielding a decrease of nearly 20% in the permeability to oxygen versus the unfilled PBS film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, it is attempted to enhance the properties and biodegradability of poly(butylene adipate terephthalate) (PBAT) using nanocomposite technology to meet the demand for sustainable packaging applications. Two nanoclays containing PBAT composites are reactively processed and integrated into the multilayered films. Reactive processing facilitates the dispersion and distribution of nanoclay particles in the PBAT matrix. The multilayered films comprising reactively processed PBAT composites exhibited a 24.5%–31.5% reduction in the oxygen transmission rate and improved dimensional stability and tensile properties. Moreover, the degradability of the multilayered film comprising reactively processed PBAT composites reached 82% in 180 days. In contrast, a neat PBAT film of similar thickness attained only 53% degradation in the same period. The biodegradation mechanism is proposed based on the topology of the disintegrated films studied using scanning electron microscopy, chemical bond vibrations determined by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, and structural evolution by small‐ and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (SWAXS). The SWAXS analysis is used to understand the changes in the degree of crystallinity, long‐range periodic order, and crystalline and amorphous layer thickness of the multilayered films before and after degradation. Such multilayered films can find applications where packaging or biomedical devices cannot be recycled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efforts to develop and implement an increasing number of biodegradable polymers continue to grow worldwide; nevertheless, substantial obstacles must undoubtedly be surmounted in order to produce biodegradable polymers that exhibit exceptional properties and high performance. With the objective of enhancing the compatibility between the two intrinsically immiscible polymers, polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) and poly(butylene adipate) (PLA), we employed epoxidized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (epoxy-POSS) nanoparticles. A solution-casting method was employed to fabricate nanocomposites comprising a nanoparticle and two biocompatible polymers. This process proved to be highly effective. The distinctive morphology, high strength, toughness, and thermal stability of these nanocomposites were demonstrated by a variety of experiments at 1 wt% nanoparticle. The opposite effect was observed when nanoparticles were added exceeding 1 wt%; consequently, the degree of compatibility between the polymer phases diminished. The impact strength and elongation-at-break of the composite samples were significantly altered at 1% nanoparticle application, going from 57.04 MPa and 520% to about 400% and 62.4 MPa, respectively, as compared to pristine PLA. Microscopic observations showed that the dispersion of nanoparticles in all three phases was dispersed, continuous, and the interface was uniform, and the presence of nanoparticles prevented the melt crystallization of PLA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing global demand for biodegradable plastics, the hydrogenation of dimethyl maleate (DMM) to produce 1,4-butanediol (BDO), raw materials for poly(butylene succinate), has become one of the hot spots in chemical industry. In this work, we synthesized a series of Cu@C/ZnO–Sx catalysts by the method of sorbitol modification for the liquid-phase hydrogenation of DMM. The modification with appropriate sorbitol led to a decoration of carbon on catalyst surface, which improved the copper dispersion and Cu+/(Cu0 + Cu+) molar ratio in the Cu@C/ZnO–S0.08 catalyst. The carbon decoration not only promoted the formation of more copper species having stronger interaction with ZnO, but also enhanced the absorption of ester on catalyst surface. These distinctive properties contributed to the high performance of the Cu@C/ZnO–S0.08 catalyst in DMM hydrogenation, achieving an excellent BDO yield of 98.4% and superior reusability. The insights into the roles of sorbitol modification could give valuable guidance to the further design of high performance catalysts for esters hydrogenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights In this research, we have successfully produced biodegradable composite filaments using Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and cocoa bean shell residues (CBS). These composite filaments, fabricated by incorporating up to 20 wt% of the natural filler into the PBS matrix through extrusion processing, have undergone rigorous rheological, mechanical, thermal, morphological, and soil disintegration characterizations. The results have unveiled the potential of printing biodegradable biocomposite filaments, with the materials demonstrating thermal stability in the printing process temperature range. However, a reduction in thermal stability was observed with the incorporation of the natural filler. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses indicated a small crystallinity variation for the composites concerning the pure PBS matrix. Furthermore, incorporating the natural filler improved the disintegration rate in the composites' soil, suggesting that CBS can increase and modulate the biodegradation rate of the PBS matrix, thereby expanding its applications in sustainable packaging, 3D printed parts for consumer goods, and agriculture. Sustainable innovation by using PBS‐CBS filaments for eco‐conscious production. CBS boosts biodegradation and soil disintegration. Shaping a greener future with eco‐friendly 3D printing of PBS‐CBS biocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to evaluate the influence of the incorporation of oyster shell powder (OSP) on the mechanical properties, thermal performance and crystallization behavior of green poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) composites by regulating the dispersed oyster shell power with the silane coupling agent. In the present study, fully biodegradable PBS composites have been successfully prepared by virtue of the melt blending with γ-Glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH560) grafted oyster shell power namely OSP@KH560, enhancing the mechanical properties and thermal performance of the result materials. The incorporation of 20wt% OSP@KH560 into the composite promotes a dramatic increase of 48.1% in modulus of PBS composite. The result from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) shows that thermal stabilities of PBS composites gradually increases with increasing the amount of OSP@KH560. By adding 30wt% OSP@KH560, the initial decomposition temperature of the PBS composite increases by 15℃. The DSC result demonstrates that the addition of OSP@KH560 at 30% leads to a crystallinity of 45.78% in the composites, which is 35.65% lower than that of PBS, indicating that OSP@KH560 promotes heterogeneous nucleation and accelerates the crystallization rate of PBS, thus reducing its crystallinity. This work provides a new option to prepare PBS composites with good performance and high-cost competitiveness, and further utilizes marine resources while breaking away from dependence on oil resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodegradable green composites of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and poly(L-lactide) (PLA) fibers were initially melt-blended aiming to obtain balanced comprehensive properties. According to the morphological observations, the PLA fibers were uniformly embedded in the PBS matrix. Rheology measurements suggested that the incorporation of PLA fibers improved the viscoelasticity of PBS melt. The percolation network of PLA fibers was formed at content of 20 wt%. The presence of PLA fibers inhibited the crystallization and reduced the isothermal crystallization rate of PBS in the composites. Moreover, the reinforcing effect of PLA fibers on the PBS matrix was found to be very significant. The storage modulus and tensile modulus of the composite with 30 wt% PLA fibers were 74% and 94% higher than those of neat PBS, respectively. PBS/PLA fiber composites prepared by simple melt blending method displayed the combination of enhanced melt strength and modulus, while maintaining the biodegradability of PBS matrix, which is of great potential for the wider practical application of environmentally friendly polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method has been developed to quantify PET and PBT microplastics (MPs) based on depolymerization and detection of depolymerization products by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) without a complex separation process from environmental samples. Under the optimal depolymerization conditions, PET and PBT were efficiently converted to ethylene glycol (78%) and 1,4-butanediol (87%), respectively. Subsequently, the linear curves were constructed between signal intensities of depolymerization products and polymer masses by GC–MS/MS, and the correlation coefficients of PET and PBT were 0.996 and 0.997, respectively. The spiking and recovery experiments of PET and PBT in the environmental samples showed that the recovery was stable in the range 89–100%, and the limit of detection was 4.95 μg and 1.39 μg of PET and PBT, respectively. The method has been proven to be capable of simultaneous identification and quantification of PBT and PET MPs in real environmental water samples without complex separation process, which provided a scheme for the determination of microplastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was to improve the heat resistance of polylactic acid (PLA) through blending modification. Ethylene-methyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate (E-MA-GMA) and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and talc powder (talc) were added to PLA matric to prepare PLA/E-MA-GMA/PBS/talc blends. The effects of PLA/E-MA GMA/PBS/talc content on the mechanical properties, flowability, rheological properties, heat resistance of the blends were studied. The results show that with the change of PLA/EMAGMA/PBS/ talc blend system, the tensile strength of the blends gradually decreases, while the toughness and impact strength gradually increase, indicating the existence of partial toughening and compatibility between the blend materials. Theheat deflection temperature of the untreated blends remains relatively stable at around 55 °C, while the heat deflection temperature of the crystallized blends is generally higher than 90 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly (butylene succinate) PBS is considered one of the most interesting biodegradable polymers because of the good compromise of mechanical strength, ductility, toughness, and impact resistance. To change the properties of PBS, modified poly (butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate-co-ethylene succinate-co-ethylene adipate) (PBEAS) was developed. Meanwhile, polylactide (PLA) is one of the commercially used eco-friendly polymers but is limited for commercial applications due to its brittleness and relatively slow hydrolysis. In this study, we explore potential synergistic effects of blending PLA with PBS and PLA with PBEAS, and their properties before and after hydrolytic degradations were investigated as a function of degradation time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights This study focused on the preparation of bamboo flour/Poly (butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) composites with high bamboo flour content and high mechanical strength using polyurethane prepolymer as chemical–physical compatibilizer via in‐situ reaction. Additionally, this work explored the effects of different bamboo flour contents and different types of polyurethane prepolymers on the mechanical properties, morphology, thermodynamics, water absorption, and surface wettability of the bamboo flour/PBAT composites. The results showed that PBA‐based polyurethane prepolymer (PBAPU) was an effective compatibilizer, promoting the interfacial adhesion between bamboo flour and PBAT. The strength at break, elongation at break, and impact strength of composites with 50% bamboo flour content reached 19.56 MPa, 25.53%, and 12.8 KJ/m2. With the increase of bamboo flour content, the strength of composites was still higher. The addition of PBAPU enhanced the thermal stability, mechanical properties, water resistance, and hydroscopicity of the bamboo flour/PBAT composites. Furthermore, the compatibilization of PBA‐based polyurethane prepolymer on composites was better than that of PCL‐based polyurethane prepolymer. Overall, we provided an effective strategy for preparing renewable, green, and practical high‐bamboo flour composites. This work successfully prepared bamboo flour/PBAT composites with high bamboo content using an in‐situ melt blending reaction. A new interface structure of physical PBA‐PBA interaction between the PBAPU layer and PBAT matrix improved the compatibilization of the composites. PBAPU as a compatibilizer effectively improved the interface compatibility, thermal stability, and water resistance of Bamboo flour/PBAT blends. Bamboo flour/PBAT composites with high bamboo flour content have excellent mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solution behavior of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) copolyesters with dilinoleic monomer units (dilinoleic diol (LD) / dilinoleic diacid (LA)) is studied to understand the processing behavior from melt. NMR investigations show that the short‐chain branches are characterized by a distribution of different alkyl chain lengths, where n‐butyl (C4) and longer chains have the largest content (>55 mol%). High‐temperature size exclusion chromatography with threefold detection (multi‐angle light‐scattering, refractive index, and viscosity detector) in 1,2,4‐trichlorobenzene is performed to determine molar masses, hydrodynamic radii, viscosity radii, and Kuhn–Mark–Houwink–Sakurada (KMHS) exponents α in dependence of the molar amount of short‐chain branched comonomers. Low concentrations of dilinoleic comonomers in PBT copolyesters improve the solubility of the copolyesters significantly. Higher amounts cause contraction of the polymer coils as illustrated by smaller hydrodynamic radii as well as lower KMHS exponents. The α values decrease with increasing amount of short‐chain branched comonomer except for very low concentrations. The solution behavior of LA and LD copolyesters with a higher aliphatic content shows different trends of the influence of short‐chain branches on the melt behavior, which reflects the influence of intramolecular versus intermolecular entanglements in solution and in melt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the nanofibrillated poly(butylene succinate)/polytetrafluoroethylene (PBS/PTFE) composites were prepared. The relaxation time was prolonged by PTFE fibrils, resulting in an enhancement in storage modulus and melt viscosity. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to study the non-isothermal crystallization kinetics at different cooling rates. These results showed that PTFE fibrils could promote crystallization nucleation and excessive fibrils could inhibit crystallization growth. Lightweight PBS/PTFE composite foams were fabricated using core-back foam injection molding. Loading the PTFE fibrils increased the cell density of PBS foam from 2.7×106 to 1.4×108 cells/cm3 and improved the cell morphology of PBS foam. By controlling the foaming parameter, the tensile properties of PBS-based composite foam with 1 wt.% PTFE were improved overall, and the Izod impact strength was increased by 9–69% compared with the PBS foam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a low-calorie sugar, D-allulose is produced from D-fructose catalyzed by D-allulose 3-epimerase (DAE). Here, to improve the catalytic activity, stability, and processability of DAE, we reported a novel method by forming organic–inorganic hybrid nanoflowers (NF-DAEs) and co-immobilizing them on resins to form composites (Re-NF-DAEs). NF-DAEs were prepared by combining DAE with metal ions (Co2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Ca2+, Ni2+, Fe2+, and Fe3+) in PBS buffer, and were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. All of the NF-DAEs showed higher catalytic activities than free DAE, and the NF-DAE with Ni2+ (NF-DAE-Ni) reached the highest relative activity of 218%. The NF-DAEs improved the thermal stability of DAE, and the longest half-life reached 228 min for NF-DAE-Co compared with 105 min for the free DAE at 55 °C. To further improve the recycling performance of the NF-DAEs in practical applications, we combined resins and NF-DAEs to form Re-NF-DAEs. Resins and NF-DAEs co-effected the performance of the composites, and ReA (LXTE-606 neutral hydrophobic epoxy-based polypropylene macroreticular resins)-based composites (ReA-NF-DAEs) exhibited outstanding relative activities, thermal stabilities, storage stabilities, and processabilities. The ReA-NF-DAEs were able to be reused to catalyze the conversion from D-fructose to D-allulose, and kept more than 60% of their activities after eight cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermoformed fossil‐based disposable packaging is widely used in everyday life but it represents a serious environmental problem, as it is often incorrectly dispersed or destined to landfills. Bio‐based and biodegradable materials can constitute and effective solution to this issue. Two different blends of poly(butylene succinate‐co‐butylene adipate) (PBSA) and Poly (3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBH) were studied as constituents for disposable packaging production. The blends were produced via twin screw extrusion. Sheets were cast extruded and then thermoformed into trays. A rheological, thermal and mechanical characterization was performed on compounds and manufacts. Both blends presented a good processability and interesting properties for packaging application, which can be tailored by varying the percentage of constituent polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic pollution is becoming a major health issue due to the recent discovery of microplastics and nanoplastics in living organisms and the environment, calling for advanced technologies to remove plastic waste. Here we review enzymes that degrade plastics with focus on plastic properties, protein engineering and polymers such as poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate), poly(lactic acid), polyamide and polyurethane. The mechanism of action of natural and engineered enzymes has been probed by experimental and computation approaches. The performance of polyester-degrading enzymes has been improved via directed evolution, structure-guided rational design and machine learning-aided strategies. The improved enzymes display higher stability at elevated temperatures, and tailored substrate-binding sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable materials, research on cellulose/bio-based polyester composites has received increasing attention. However, the hydrophilicity of cellulose remains a major factor in its poor interaction with hydrophobic bio-based polyester. To prepare microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)/poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) composite monofilaments with high cellulose content to suppress the deformation of PBS, hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (KH1631) was selected for surface silylation of MCC at a mass ratio of 1:0.5 based on the principle of polarity similarity. The physical–chemical double crosslinking of KH1631 with MCC enhanced the interfacial bonding between MCC and PBS, so composite monofilaments with modified MCC (named mMCC) contents up to 35 wt% were prepared by melt spinning. After thermal stretching, mMCC/PBS composite monofilaments exhibited uniformly distributed microporous structure and double yield behaviors. Despite the continuous decrease in breaking strength (from 210 to 84 MPa) and elastic modulus (from 1380 to 590 MPa) due to the addition of mMCC, the yield strength (116 MPa) of the mMCC/PBS composite monofilaments was consistent with that of PBS when the mMCC addition reached 25 wt%, indicating no impact on usage intensity. Moreover, mMCC/PBS composite monofilaments showed excellent tensile elasticity (up to 95%), excellent fatigue resistance, and low residual strains under small deformation (15%). Notably, the addition of 15–35 wt% mMCC increased the degradability of composite monofilaments, the degradation rate following 100 days of treatment in an aqueous environment ranged from 3.8%(PBS) to 4.7% (P-mM25), and the degradation rate following 180 days of burial in soil ranged from 3.9%(PBS) to 12.3% (P-mM35). Overall, our work significantly enhanced the compatibility between MCC and PBS without the use of any high-cost modifiers or complex processing methods, and successfully developed mMCC/PBS composite monofilaments that exhibit excellent dimensional stability during use and quick degradation after disposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneously biaxial stretching was applied to poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA), and their blends to investigate the effect of biaxial orientation (BO) on gas permeability and mechanical strength, compared to their thin films. The BO process with a high draw ratio of 4 × 4 and a rapid rate of 300 mm/s effectively induced the formation of both perfect α-PBS crystals and small PBS crystal-like aggregates. The distinctive crystallization behaviors of PBS and PBSA, coupled with various film stretching processes, played crucial roles in crystal formation and orientation, resulting in distinct properties of the oriented films. The lattice plane (021) of α-PBS crystal predominantly formed with isotropic orientation through the BO process, while the (110) planes displayed isotropic formation along orthotropic orientation of the crystal c-axis. Conversely, uniaxial cast film extrusion favored preferential alignment of both (020) and (110) diffraction planes along the meridian direction. The perfect α-PBS crystals from PBS homopolymer played a critical role in enhancing gas barrier performance, while the specific orientation of crystalline phase and PBS fringed-micelle crystals proved insufficient in reducing gas diffusivity within the films. Furthermore, the limited crystallization capability of PBSA copolymer disrupted the densely packed structures of α-PBS crystalline phase, resulting in increased d-spacing with higher PBSA content in the PBS/PBSA blend. Remarkably, the simultaneous BO process enabled balanced tensile properties along both the machine and transverse directions of the PBS, PBSA, and PBS/PBSA films, with a substantial enhancement (3 to 4-fold increase) in puncture toughness for BO films compared to thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical recycling of plastics is regarded as the best option to minimize plastic waste pollution in the environment as it is well established and offers valorisation of plastics; however, there is limited research on the mechanical recyclability of biopolymers. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of multiple reprocessing on the mechanical, thermal, physical, chemical, and morphological properties of poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), poly (butylene succinate) (PBS), poly (lactic acid) (PLA), PBAT-PBS blend, and PBAT-thermoplastic starch (TPS) composite. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), a conventional non-biodegradable plastic, was also reprocessed for comparison studies. The biopolymers were extruded seven times in a twin-screw extruder and injection moulded into test specimens. Their properties were investigated at each extrusion cycle. Tensile, impact strength, and melt flow index (MFI) results of neat PBAT and PBAT-TPS were stable with slight changes throughout the seven reprocessing cycles and were comparable to LDPE. The properties of PBS, PLA, and PBAT-PBS blend, on the other hand, started to decrease after the second melt extrusion cycle. In addition, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TGA), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results showed that LDPE, PBAT, and PBAT-TPS exhibited better thermal and mechanical stability as compared to PBS, PLA, and PBAT-PBS blend. The FTIR spectroscopy results showed that the characteristic peaks of C=O and C–O around 1710 cm−1 and 1046–1100 cm−1 for PBS, PLA, and PBAT-PBS decreased due to multiple thermal processing, while those of PBAT and PBAT-TPS were unaffected. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs of the fractured cross-sectional surface of PBS, PLA, and PBAT-PBS tensile specimens clearly evidenced the degradation of the biopolymers by severely fractured morphology as a result multiple reprocessing cycle. The results demonstrate that the fully biodegradable PBAT and PBAT-TPS can be mechanically recycled for at least seven cycles, and therefore, the service life of biodegradable polymers can be extended, and it is comparable with petroleum-based plastic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starch is an environmentally friendly, renewable, green resource and an ideal alternative to polymers from petroleum resources. The preparation of high‐performance poly (butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT)/corn starch composite materials is of significant importance for saving production costs and expanding the application fields of PBAT plastics. This study employed novel processing techniques such as melt blending and injection molding to fabricate PBAT/corn starch composite materials with polyurethane prepolymer (PCLPU) as a compatibilizer. The impact of varying polyurethane prepolymer concentrations on the composite material's structure, mechanical properties, morphology, thermal behavior, and water absorption was scrutinized. Mechanical performance testing showed that compared to the composite material without PCLPU (P90CS10), adding 5% PCLPU can increase the material's elongation at break from 350.2% to 359.0% and the tensile strength from 12.9 to 19.8 MPa. Scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and water absorption results indicate that the composite material with the addition of the PCLPU compatibilizer has better compatibility, thermal stability, and water resistance than P90CS10. Additionally, the prepared composite material could be successfully blown into a thin film, further enriching the application of the composite material. Highlights: A special interface structure was prepared to increase the compatibility of the poly (butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate)/corn starch composite.Both the strength and the flexibility of the composite were successfully improved.The processing method through which modification was conducted in the melt was convenient, green, and effective.The prepared composite material has potential application value, and the processing method of the composite material is easy to transfer to industrial production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioplastic films with excellent barrier properties were successfully prepared from poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT), thermoplastic starch (TPS), and poly((R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐(R)‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx). The rheological, mechanical, barrier, dynamic mechanical properties, and microstructure of the PBAT/TPS/PHBHHx films were studied. The transition of the continuous phase in the blend significantly affects the properties of the films. The increase in PHBHHx content results in its transition from a dispersed phase to a continuous phase. This phase transition, along with the consequent increase in the crystallinity of PHBHHx, greatly enhances the barrier properties of the film. The percentage crystalline degree of PHBHHx increased from 10.9% to 25.1% with increasing PHBHHx content from 0% to 50%. The film containing 50% PHBHHx showed a significant decrease in both water vapor permeability (WVP) and oxygen permeability (OP) by 75.1% and 69.6%, respectively. It found that the film containing 50% PHBHHx exhibited a decrease of elongation at break from 505% to less than 10% but an unusual increase of tensile strength after a 72‐hour aging test, which is different from PBAT and PBAT/TPS films. However, this indicates that the extensibility of PHBHHx is more susceptible to the effects of aging test, leading to the rearrangement of polymer chains from disordered to ordered morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stretchable conducting films are a prime necessity for future stretchable and wearable electronics. In this work, highly conducting poly(3,4 ethylenedioxythiophene):Tosylate (PEDOT:Tos) films are deposited on extremely stretchable styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene (SEBS) substrates via vapor phase polymerization (VPP) and their inherent properties are systematically studied. The charge transport and electrical properties of VPP PEDOT:Tos stretchable films are measured from room temperature down to the low temperature of 5 K. Interestingly, the mechanical properties of the stretchable substrate lead to buckling of the PEDOT:Tos that affect the electrical conductivity but not the charge carrier mobility, optical, and structural properties. The VPP PEDOT:Tos on the stretchable SEBS substrate show a semiconducting behavior as electrical resistance is enhanced upon cooling from room temperature to 5 K. Such kind of stretchable conducting films can be used for stretchable transistors, wearable sensing, energy storage, and electrochromic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of eco-friendly polymer composites with multifunctional properties aligns with the goals of the circular economy agenda, which aims to minimize waste and promote the sustainable use of resources by closing the loop of product life cycles. Eco-friendly polymer composites play a crucial role in achieving these objectives. The present work focuses on the preparation of fully biobased blends obtained by melt mixing a bio-polyester, poly(butylene succinate- co -adipate) (PBSA), with orange peels up to 20 wt%, to yield active polymer composites. Orange peels, employed here as natural filler, are largely available from food wastes, they are rich in phenolic compounds and possess antioxidant activity as shown by the experimental tests carried out. The thermal stability of the formulated composites is almost unchanged by the filler addition, showing only a slight decrease of the crystallization temperatures and crystalline fraction within the composites. The mechanical properties of the compounds evidence an increase in the elastic modulus together with a decrease in the tensile strength, while the elongation at break remains almost constant. The incorporation of the natural filler enabled the integration of antioxidant and antibacterial properties, which were absent in the original pristine polymer. • PBSA containing up to 20 wt% of orange peels have good antioxidant and antibacterial properties. • Biocomposites formulated with orange peels are found to retain good mechanical properties in terms of elongation at break. • The thermoplastic material produced can be used in the packaging industry or in the organic or integrated farming sector application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript serves as the starting point for in-depth research of multicomponent, statistical, methacrylate-based copolymers that potentially mimic the behavior of proteins in aqueous solutions. These synthetic macromolecules are composed of specially chosen comonomers: methacrylic acid (MAA), oligoethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate (OEGMA475), 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and benzyl methacrylate (BzMA). Monomer choice was based on factors such as the chemical nature of pendant functional groups, the polyelectrolyte/polyampholyte and amphiphilic character and the overall hydrophobic–hydrophilic balance (HLB) of the obtained quaterpolymers. Their synthesis was achieved via a one-pot reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization in two distinct compositions and molecular architectures, linear and hyperbranched, respectively, in order to explore the effects of macromolecular topology. The resulting statistical quaterpolymers were characterized via 1H-NMR and ATR-FTIR spectroscopies. Their behavior in aqueous solutions was studied by dynamic (DLS) and electrophoretic light scattering (ELS) and fluorescence spectroscopy (FS), producing vital information concerning their self-assembly and the structure of the formed aggregates. The physicochemical studies were extended by tuning parameters such as the solution pH and ionic strength. Finally, the quaterpolymer behavior in FBS/PBS solutions was investigated to test their colloid stability and biocompatibility in an in vivo-mimicking, biological fluid environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of petroleum‐based monomers in the backbone of poly(butylene succinate‐co‐adipate) (PBSA) restricts its application in light of increasingly stringent environmental regulations. In this study, a novel full bio‐based biodegradable random copolymer poly(butylene succinate‐sebacicate‐salicylicate‐malicate) (PBSSeSa‐c‐M) was designed and synthesized. The comprehensive study encompassed the structural alterations, properties, and degradation resulting from the inclusion of salicylicate sebacicate and malicate units. The incorporation of salicylic acid effectively enhanced the tensile modulus of the copolymer, due to the effect of rigid benzene ring. Meanwhile, the addition of sebacic acid regulated the degradation rate. The introduction of malic acid significantly improved the rheological properties, endowing the copolymer with exceptional processability. The obtained high molecular weight PBSSeSa‐c‐M exhibited outstanding film‐blowing processability with an intrinsic viscosity of 1.58 dL/g and melt flow rate of 7.34 g/10 min. The tensile modulus reaches 235.43 MPa that is comparable to commercial PBSA. Besides, the degradation of PBSSeSa‐c‐M reaches 18.92% over 4 weeks, far higher than that of PBSA. In conclusion, this work provides a design and synthesis for a new kind of biodegradable copolyester that satisfies the requirement of rapid degradation in single‐use plastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kinetic migration of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and poly(butylene succinate‐co‐adipate) (PBSA) biopolymers, prepared by cast film extrusion (thin film) and biaxial stretching (biaxially oriented [BO] film) techniques, were investigated based on experimental and mathematical modeling. MATLAB coding was used to fit the migration data to a diffusion model. BO films significantly reduced the migration rate compared with thin films, with reductions of 29% and 41% for BO‐PBS and BO‐PBSA, respectively, due to the increased degree of molecular crystallinity. Higher ethanol content increased the quantity of substance diffusing from plastic film. PBS and PBSA are more suitable for packaging hydrophilic foods than alcoholic beverages. PBS exhibited a lower migration rate than PBSA due to its more rigid polymer matrix. Remarkably, BO‐films exhibited 31% and 41% lower diffusion coefficients (D) compared with thin films, but significantly higher partition coefficients (KP,F) by 44% and 267% for BO‐PBS and BO‐PBSA, respectively. This suggests a stronger affinity of migrant for BO film matrix. However, at 70°C, PBSA films may be hydrolyzed with a high ethanol, resulting in an inadequate diffusion model. The diffusion–reaction concept should be implemented for a better fit. These findings provide valuable insights for selecting appropriate packaging materials and predicting migration under diverse conditions, ultimately promoting consumer safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elastin is the main component of arteries and is responsible for their high‐elastic high‐strain capacity. The biomechanics of biological tissues typically display a stress–strain curve characterized by a sigmoidal shape that has an initial region with low stress and high strain. Studies aimed at mimicking such biomechanical behavior focus on improving the synthesis of elastin or replicating elastin behavior, which proves to be a continuous challenge. Alternatively, scaffolds' architecture can potentially mimic the sigmoidal stress–strain curve of tissues. Hence, the aim of this study was to replicate the stress–strain curve of a carotid artery using a tailorable corrugated design. Results showed that the corrugated design unfolded during extension without generating significant stress and displayed a sigmoidal stress–strain curve that could be controlled depending on the corrugation features. Editing the amount of fibers resulted in a different Young's modulus, while the amplitude of the fibers and the amount of repeating units influenced the initial nonlinear region of the stress–strain curve. Scaffolds made of poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(ethylene oxide terephthalate)/poly(butylene terephthalate (PEOT/PBT) were compared to determine the applicability of the design principles to different biodegradable polymers that normally do not have the same biomechanical behavior of soft tissues like arteries. The optimized designs had a similar stress–strain curve within the physiological range as porcine arteries. The corrugated design can serve as a biomimicry approach for vascular grafts or an alternative to vascular stents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) is a promising biodegradable flexible polymer but suffers from slow crystallization rate, making it less attractive for some applications like the injection-molded products in comparison with low-density polyethylene (LDPE). This work aimed to accelerate the crystallization of PBAT by adding a self-assembly nucleating agent octamethylenedicarboxylic dibenzoylhydrazide (OMBH). PBAT/OMBH composites with various OMBH contents (0 wt%, 0.5 wt%, 0.7 wt%, 1 wt%, 2 wt%, 3 wt% and 5 wt%) were prepared through melt-mixing. The effect of OMBH on the crystallization behavior, morphologies and mechanical properties of PBAT was investigated. The highest nucleation efficiency value of 59.6% was achieved for PBAT with 0.7 wt% OMBH, much higher than that of 22.7% for PBAT with 0.7 wt% talc. Atomic force microscopy results showed that OMBH formed fine fibers and induced the formation of transcrystalline layers of PBAT. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) combined with two-dimensional correlation spectra suggested that the intermolecular dipole-dipole N—H⋯O=C interactions but not hydrogen bond between OMBH and PBAT promoted the crystallization of PBAT in the initial period of crystallization. The presence of OMBH did not change the crystal form of PBAT but had positive contribution in enhancing its crystallinity and mechanical properties. This work is essential for preparing PBAT with high crystallization rate, enhancing its potential applications in injection-molded products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research work, a coated paper was prepared with poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) film to explore its use in eco-friendly food packaging. The paper was coated with PBAT film for packaging using hot pressing, a production method currently employed in the packaging industry. The coated papers were evaluated for their structural, mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties. The structural morphology and chemical analysis of the coated paper confirmed the consistent formation of PBAT bi-layered on paper surfaces. Surface coating with PBAT film increased the water resistance of the paper samples, as demonstrated by tests of barrier characteristics, including the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), oxygen transmission rate (OTR), and water contact angle (WCA) of water drops. The transmission rate of the clean paper was 2010.40 cc m−2 per 24 h for OTR and 110.24 g m−2 per 24 h for WVTR. If the PBAT-film was coated, the value decreased to 91.79 g m−2 per 24 h and 992.86 cc m−2 per 24 h. The hydrophobic nature of PBAT, confirmed by WCA measurements, contributed to the enhanced water resistance of PBAT-coated paper. This result presents an improved PBAT-coated paper material, eliminating the need for adhesives and allowing for the fabrication of bi-layered packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodegradable polymers play a crucial role in the development of materials for biomedical applications. This study investigates the enzymatic biodegradation, bioactivity, and cytotoxicity of poly(butylene succinate‐dilinoleic succinate) (PBS‐DLS) copolymers modified with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Two copolymer variations with different segmental compositions (70 wt.% and 60 wt.% of hard segments) are synthesized. After modifying the copolymers with PEG, the presence of a lipase catalyst accelerated degradation after 20 days, evidenced by reduced residual content. Gel permeation chromatography analysis showed up to 40% decrease in molecular weight, while gravimetric analysis indicated a mass loss of up to 10%. Morphological examination revealed that the enzymatic breakdown, facilitated by hydrolase activity (boosted by the presence of PEG), resulted in surface erosion, holes, and changes in spherulitic morphology. Bioactivity studies demonstrated the formation of biomimetic calcium/phosphate (Ca/P) crystals. Copolymers with higher crystallinity (70 wt.% hard segments) favored tricalcium phosphate‐like crystal formation, while those with lower crystallinity (60 wt.% hard segments) are more susceptible to hydroxyapatite precipitation. In vitro cytotoxicity tests exhibited excellent cell viability and attachment for all copolymers. The ability to control degradation through PEG modification, along with their bioactivity and cell compatibility, positions them as promising candidates for diverse biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overcoming limitations of poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) and enabling non-toxic, rapid production could lay the foundation for expanding applications in various fields. In this work, mechanically activated cassava starch (ACS) was used to augment the toughness of PBS and reduce the plasticization time of starch. The composite was prepared by melt blending PBS with two types of activated cassava starch particles (native starch and ACS) and acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC) as a non-toxic plasticizer. X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), scanning electronic microscope (SEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to investigate the structural changes, compatibility, and dispersibility of ACS particles in PBS. The results showed that under high-speed shear and grinding, the hydrogen bonds within ACS molecules were severely disrupted and the amorphous regions increased, leading to improved compatibility with PBS. Under the plasticization of ATBC, the cross-section of ACS composites was smoother. DSC results showed that addition of ACS significantly reduced crystallinity of PBS/ACS composites. Mechanical properties results showed that impact strength and elongation at break of PBS/ACS-12A were, respectively, increased by 125% and over 5 times compared with that of PBS. Water absorption test and contact angle test demonstrate a significant improvement in the water resistance of PBS/ACS. This study provides a simple and feasible method for preparing low-cost PBS biocomposites, and their extensions are expected to further replace general-purpose plastics in daily application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toward the end of the century, plastic waste treatment and recycling would be major issue to be addressed. Thus, to overcome the problem of polymer non-biodegradability, study and application of biodegradable polymers is important. Biodegradable polymers are those which can be broken down into smaller oligomers or monomers upon action of radiation, moisture, enzymes and chemicals. Poly(butylene) succinate (PBS) is one of the biodegradable polymers manufactured and studied for a long time. This review majorly focuses on its synthesis, blends, copolymers, composites, biodegradation studies, applications and processability. PBS copolymers are synthesized using multiple approaches such as monomer, polymer and application based. PBS blends are studied with PP, poly(propylene carbonate), Soy protein isolate and poly(lactic) acid. The PBS and its blends find its application in agricultural films, packaging, tableware, and biomedical applications. PBS composites were prepared using synthetic organic, inorganic fillers and bio-based fillers to improve its mechanical performance, flame retardancy, biodegradabilit,y etc., based on type of reinforcement. Biodegradability is one the property of PBS which will help in maintaining circular economy and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma radiation is a common sterilization technique utilized in the packaging of raw and processed foods; it acts retarding the microbial growth in packaged foods, however, depending on the dose, the radiation can modify the chemical structure of the polymers in the packaging. In this study, different doses of 10, 25 and 50 kGy were applied in PBAT films additivated with orange essential oil, and their physical, chemical and thermal properties were investigated. The results of the principal components analysis of the films showed that the applied doses altered the chemical structures of the films, the DSC of the films showed a reduction of their crystallization temperature and an increase in their enthalpy of fusion, indicating a cross-linking, the TGA of the samples revealed that the material remained stable with the doses applied, additionally, the films became more resistant and rigid without losing their elastic behavior. At last, the analyses presented that the additivated PBAT films did not suffer major modifications in their structure due to irradiation, indicating a good radiolytic stability of the PBAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, coffee silverskin (CSS) fibers were subjected to alkali pretreatment (ALK‐CSS) and alkali pretreatment, followed by a 4‐bar steam explosion process (SEW4). Both treated fibers presented a higher degree of crystallinity, enhanced thermal resistance and also cleaner, rough, and defibrillated surface due to the removal of noncellulosic components, as was shown in scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier‐transform infrared spectra, and x‐ray diffraction (XRD) results. The SEW4 fibers were incorporated into the poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) matrix in contents up to 5% wt. through melt processing. PBAT/SEW4 composites were evaluated by their microstructure, thermal properties, degree of crystallinity, and hydrophilic behavior. XRD results showed PBAT/SEW4 composites with higher degrees of crystallinity and contact angle tests revealed increased composite hydrophobicity with the increase of SEW4 content in the PBAT matrix. This work describes the importance of recovering coffee lignocellulosic waste and producing value‐added by‐products, especially in packaging manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different carbon black (CB) contents in poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT)/poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐4‐hydroxybutyrate) (P34HB) blends were prepared by melt blending using chain extender multifunctional styrene‐acrylic‐ epoxy random oligomer (ADR), as a compatibilizer. PBAT and P34HB were immiscible, and ADR could react with PBAT and P34HB to improve interfacial adhesion force and molecular entanglement. CB fillers were uniformly and selectively located in the PBAT matrix and could act as a nucleating agent to promote the nucleation of PBAT crystallization. At a CB content of 5 wt%, a percolation network structure of CB was formed. The most interesting result in the work was the achievement of composites with improved rheological and mechanical properties under the synergistic effect of chain extender and CB fillers. The viscoelasticity of the system was markedly improved and a transition from liquid‐like to solid‐like behavior was observed. Young's modulus and yield strength of chain extender modified PBAT/P34HB/CB composite with 10 wt% CB increased by 502% and 69% compared to neat PBAT, and by 89% and 43% compared to PBAT/P34HB binary blend. The combination of improved melt viscoelasticity and mechanical properties will further broaden the practical application of biodegradable polymers. © 2024 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) is one of the solutions to the energy crisis and white pollution. However, the poor thermo‐oxidative stability limits its wide applications. In this work, Chrysanthemum morifolium extract (CME) as a natural additive was used to modify the PBAT. The oxidation onset temperature (OOT) results showed that the CME could provide PBAT with high thermal oxidation stability. By the presence of 2.5 wt% CME, the OOT value of PBAT‐CME2.5 increased by 52°C compared with the neat PBAT. The outstanding antioxidant capacity is attributed to the excellent free radical quenching capacity of CME, whose main components consist of six kinds of phenolic compounds. Moreover, the PBAT‐CME1.5 composite could achieve the balance between the mechanical property and thermo‐oxidative stability, the OOT result of PBAT‐CME1.5 increased by 42°C, the tensile strength reached 103.1%, and the elongation at break could retain 91.4% of that of neat PBAT. Besides, the processing property, degradation performance, and surface hydrophobic nature of modified PBAT samples were all improved. This work proposes a facile method to obtain completely natural biodegradable composites to expand the practical applications of PBAT. Highlights: The main components in CME are phenolic compounds.CME showed high free radical scavenging efficiency.CME improved the thermal oxidation stability of the PBAT matrix.The addition of CME could still maintain good mechanical properties of PBAT.The introduction of CME promoted the degradation of PBAT films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface defects known as "gas checks" often mar the surfaces of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) calendered films. These defects are typically prevented through changes in the calender operating parameters, a costly exercise which also limits the sheet thickness and the production rate. Adding a low concentration of poly(caprolactone) (PCL)‐based star‐shaped compound can eliminate gas check defects in PVC calendering. The effects of a triheptylsuccinate‐terminated PCL with a PCL triol core and number average molecular weight of 540 g/mol (i.e., PCL540‐[(succ)‐C7]3) has been investigated on the material, thermal, and processing properties of PVC blends containing diisononyl phthalate (DINP) as a primary plasticizer and PCL540‐[(succ)‐C7]3 in low quantities (i.e., 0, 5, or 10 parts per hundred rubber (phr)) as a secondary plasticizer and processing aid. The most significant differences between PVC blends containing PCL540‐[(succ)‐C7]3 and those without are in the rheological properties of the PVC blends at higher temperatures and lower angular frequencies. Under these conditions, PVC blends containing 10 phr of PCL540‐[(succ)‐C7]3 have a complex viscosity nearly three times higher than those containing only DINP. PVC/PCL540‐[(succ)‐C7]3 blends had comparable tensile properties to those containing only DINP, with no significant change in maximum elongation and a small but significant increase of 28% in maximum stress. The addition of PCL540‐[(succ)‐C7]3 made it possible to produce calendered films without gas checks that were twice as thick as those produced in its absence. In addition to reduced wastage of marred films, the increased calender operating range for PVC films containing PCL540‐[(succ)‐C7]3 has the potential to significantly reduce energy costs for the calendering of thick PVC films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodegradable packaging plastics combining good mechanical properties and low gas permeability is required to avoid environmental and food safety concerns. This study explores the impact of montmorillonite (MMT) and halloysite nanotubes (HNT), on the mechanical, optical, and oxygen permeability of blown film poly (butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) composites. The morphology of the films was evaluated by x‐ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy. Good distribution/dispersion of clays is found in the PBAT‐MMT films. Besides, there is an increase in the crystallinity of PBAT due to the nucleating effect of HNT. Improvement in the tensile strength and elongation at break in the machine direction is obtained up to a clay content of 1.5 vol%. The incorporation of 1.5 vol% of MMT and 1 vol% of HNT leads to a reduction in the oxygen permeability of the PBAT film by 29% and 38% respectively. Furthermore, the films remain transparent regardless of clay content. Finally, the feasibility of the films for food storage is tested in grapes, obtaining extended shelf life. The favorable mechanical, barrier and optical properties of the biodegradable films, along with the scalable production process, make them attractive for application in the storage and preservation of food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]