Search

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 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]

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]

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]

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]

Injection moulded specimens were produced from biodegradable poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)/organomodified montmorillonite (OMMT) nanocomposites, after melt compounding in different compositions. WAXD studies demonstrated that the OMMT formed similar intercalation levels in the 2.5–10 w/w% additive ratio range. It was also proved by rotational rheometry that the nanoclay stacks form physical network above 5 w/w% concentration, which significantly influence the viscoelastic properties of the melt. The value of zero shear viscosity also changed accordingly, starting to increase above 5 w/w% nanoclay content. The OMMT content reduced the creep sensitivity measured in molten state.X-ray and DSC investigations showed that OMMT inhibits the crystallisation of PBS, resulting in a decrease in crystallinity at higher nanoclay ratios. As a result, the room temperature creep increased with the OMMT ratio.The Young's modulus linearly increases in the entire concentration range exceeding 1.2 GPa at 10 w/w% nanoclay content. The value of yield strength does not change significantly (35–40 MPa), but the strain at yield – which characterises stiffness – and the notched Izod impact strength already decrease at 2.5 w/w% OMMT content, but further increasing the nanoclay content has minor effect. However, the nanocomposite with 10 w/w% OMMT can be a real alternative to polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) injection moulded products based on its mechanical properties.To characterise the effect of OMMT on dynamic mechanical properties, the S (Stiffening effectiveness), L (Loss effectiveness) and D (Damping effectiveness) indices were introduced to quantitatively describe the nanoclay effect intensity in each temperature range.

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 aims to enhance the properties of biodegradable plastics by blending poly(lactic acid) (PLA) as well as poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) with silicon carbide (SiC). SiC content was varied from 10 to 40 phr using an internal mixer, maintaining a 90/10 wt% ratio of PLA/PBS as the matrix. The investigation covered mechanical, thermal properties, chemical structure, and composite morphology. The morphological analysis confirmed even dispersion of SiC within the PLA/PBS matrix, possibly due to improved compatibility via a silane coupling treatment. This resulted in the maximum Young's modulus and impact strength with 40 phr SiC, showing a 40% and 76% enhancement, respectively, compared to pure PLA. Concerning thermal properties, SiC addition influenced the mobility of PLA/PBS molecular chains and crystalline structure, leading to an increase in Tg with higher SiC fractions. However, ΔHm of PLA, PBS, and Xc,PLA decreased, which corresponds to reduced viscosity in the PLA/PBS blend and increased mobility with higher SiC content, as indicated by the elevated MFI value. Young's modulus increased by 40% and impact strength by 76% than pure PLA. Even SiC dispersion in PLA/PBS, possibly aided by silane coupling. SiC alters chain mobility, boosts crystalline structure, raising Tg. ΔHm and Xc,PLA reduced, suggests reduced viscosity in PLA/PBS at more SiC. Elevated MFI value shows increased chain mobility in PLA/PBS blend at more SiC. [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]

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]

Copyright of Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica is the property of Acta Materiea Compositae Sinica Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Biodegradable polymers (poly(butylene succinate (PBS)), poly(butylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT)) and poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene adipate terephthalate (PLA/PBAT)) blend) were treated in radiofrequency (13.56 MHz) low-pressure (10 Pa) oxygen with argon post-crosslinking plasma to enhance wettability and adhesion properties. Surface morphology and roughness modification caused by plasma exposure were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Surface chemical modifications of plasma-treated samples were evaluated by Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Due to the limited durability of plasma activation, the hydrophobic recovery was evaluated by water contact angle (WCA) measurements. The ageing effect was measured over 15 days in order to assess this kind of treatment as a potential industrial scalable method to increase biodegradable polymers hydrophilic properties for food packaging applications. The effects of polymer activation on its weight loss were also determined. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis was used to study the effect of plasma treatment on the thermal properties of the polymers, while the crystallinity was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD).

Blending poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) with polylactide (PLLA) has proven effective in improving heat resistance of PLLA fibers. Unfortunately, it remains challenging to maintain good spinnability for PLLA/PBS blends with high content of PBS with which further improved heat resistance could be anticipated. In this study, reactive melt‐extrusion was devised to in‐situ generate PLLA‐PBS copolymers by introducing zinc acetate as a transesterification catalyst into PLLA/PBS blends. The compatibility between the PLLA and PBS phases was greatly improved by the formation of PLLA‐PBS copolymers, resulting in excellent melt‐spinnability even for the PLLA/PBS blends with high PBS content up to 20 wt%. In addition, an increase in crystallinity of PLLA was achieved in PLLA/PBS blend fibers, thanks to the enhanced compatibility. More importantly, the presence of PBS nuclei retarded the molecular orientation of the amorphous PLLA phase, consistent with the effective results from the relaxation heat‐setting treatment. These led to an exceptionally improved heat resistance of the PLLA/PBS blend fibers. As an encouraging result, the boiling water shrinkage was significantly reduced from ca. 20% for neat PLLA fibers to 3.7% for the PLLA/PBS blend fibers with 20 wt% PBS content. These findings may open up a facile and effective route to develop PLLA/PBS blend fibers showing sound spinnability, greatly improved heat resistance and softness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, millions of people are wearing face masks (including disposable surgical face masks), and many used masks, particularly disposable masks, are entering the environment and increasing pollution. The applicability of nanofibers in the field of filtration is considerable, and it has replaced environmentally friendly materials in research in this area. Solution-blown spinning (SBS) is an efficient and straightforward method for creating micro and nanofibers that allow quick fiber deposition on any substrate. Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) is an environmentally safe biopolymer with unique properties, such as processability and flexibility, that has piqued the interest of industry and researchers. Hence, an eco-friendly air filter based on PBS nanofibers was fabricated using SBS. This solution-blown spun PBS filter was demonstrated as an air filter for the first time. The findings demonstrated that a weight of around 19.3 g/m2 PBS webs with a mean diameter of 199 nm was adequate to produce a filtering performance of 95.26% with a pressure drop of 251 Pa at a flow rate of 85 L/min. The fast and economic features of the SBS process, as well as the environmentally friendly nature of the PBS polymer, may be a considerable contribution to the development of green filters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research to replace synthetic polymers with biodegradable polymers is on the rise because common plastics have generated serious ecosystem problems. Films with thermoplastic starch (TPS), poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), poly(butylene adipate‐co‐butylene terephthalate (PBAT), and citric acid (CA) were produced by blown extrusion. They were characterized by blow‐up ratio (BUR), water vapor permeability (WVP), soluble ratio (SR), water sorption isotherm, and thermogravimetric (TG) techniques. Films were uniform and showed BUR > 205%. The different proportions of PBS and PBAT significantly influenced the WVP of the films. All samples had WVP with an order of magnitude similar to other blends with high starch content (10−6 g m−1 day−1 Pa−1). CA efficiently decreased the WVP of the PBS/PBAT/TPS formulations (15/15/70% and 20/10/70% by mass) by 25.2% and 24.7% compared to the acid‐free formulations. There was no significant difference in SR (19.0%–20.1%). These materials were sensitive to moisture since the equilibrium moisture content increased pronouncedly from water activity of 0.5. Films showed good thermal stability, with a maximum decomposition temperature close to pure polyesters. CA did not increase the thermal stability of blends, probably because of the low content used (0.1%). Given the outcomes of this study, these films could be deemed appropriate for applications in food packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work describes the synthesis of poly(lactic acid) by the ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide in the presence of oligo(butylene succinate) with two different molecular weights (Mn = 6100 and 16300 g/mol) as a macroinitiator during reactive processing. The macroinitiators were added in concentrations 1 wt%, 2.5 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt% and 15 wt% in respect to the L-lactide mass in the premix. The properties of the received copolymers were extensively studied with spectroscopic techniques, GPC, DSC, XRD, TGA as well as nanoindentation. Blocky copolymers were received with number average molecular weights ranging from 30 to 100 kg/mol, which decreased with increasing the PBSu content in the feed. The introduction of the flexible PBSu chains decreased the single glass transition detected, while DSC and XRD gave indications that both components crystallized in the copolymers with PBSu premix content > 5 wt%. Thermal stability was maintained and depended on the composition and molecular weight. Nanoindentation showed that despite the decreasing trend of hardness and elastic modulus with increasing PBSu content, the PLA-PBSu 2.5% copolymers had simultaneously higher elasticity modulus and strength compared to the other compositions, possibly because of a complementary effect of their high molecular weight and crystallinity. These copolymers were promising for production with continuous reactive extrusion, a novel, fast and economically viable method to commercially produce PLA-based polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the stress fluctuation during the tensile process of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), the tensile behavior of biodegradable bicrystalline block copolyesters (PBSEG) synthesized using polycondensation of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) was further studied. The effects of tensile rate and temperature test conditions on the stress–strain behavior of bicrystalline block copolymer PBSEG were investigated by conducting tensile tests. The experimental results showed that when the mass content of polyethylene glycol in PBSEG was 60%, the material did not show obvious periodic stress fluctuation during the "cold drawing" stage of the stress–strain curve, but showed different and more complicated periodic curve changes. The stress fluctuation of PBSEG copolyester had the characteristics of small amplitude and short period. The elongation at break increased obviously, and the maximum elongation at break was more than 2000%. The analysis of morphology and structure showed that the surface morphology of PBSEG dumbbell bars did not show obvious alternating changes in structure, characterized by light and dark. Craze was the main cause of ductile fracture for PBS and PBSEG copolyesters. The tensile fracture of the two materials occurred in the stress fluctuation region. Highlights: Small‐amplitude and short‐period stress fluctuation for PBSEG copolyester.There was no alternating light and dark on the surface of the PBSEG stretched spline.Craze was the main cause of ductile fracture for PBS and PBSEG copolyesters.Tensile fracture of the materials occurred in the stress fluctuation region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract 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.

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.

Air pollution is becoming a serious issue because it negatively impacts the quality of life. One of the first most useful self-defense approaches against air pollution are face masks. Typically made of non-renewable petroleum-based polymers, these masks are harmful to the environment, and they are mostly disposable. Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) is regarded as one of the most promising materials because of its exceptional processability and regulated biodegradability in a range of applications. In this regard, nanofiber-based face masks are becoming more and more popular because of their small pores, light weight, and excellent filtration capabilities. Centrifugal spinning (CS) provides an alternative method for producing nanofibers from various materials at high speeds and low costs. This current study aimed to investigate the effect of processing parameters on the resultant PBS fiber morphology. Following that, the usability of PBS nonwoven as a filter media was investigated. The effects of solution concentration, rotating speed, and needle size have been examined using a three-factorial Box–Behnken experimental design. The results revealed that PBS concentration had a substantial influence on fiber diameter, with a minimum fiber diameter of 172 nm attained under optimum production conditions compared to the anticipated values of 166 nm. It has been demonstrated that the desired function and the Box–Behnken design are useful instruments for predicting the process parameters involved in the production of PBS nanofibers. PBS filters can achieve an excellent efficiency of more than 98% with a pressure drop of 238 Pa at a flow rate of 85 L/min. The disposable PBS filter media was able to return to nature after use via hydrolysis processes. The speed and cost-effectiveness of the CS process, as well as the environmentally benign characteristics of the PBS polymer, may all contribute considerably to the development of new-age filters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodegradable poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) is considered as promising material to replace conventional nondegradable polymers in various engineering fields, but the applications are limited by its inherent flammability and low electrical conductivity. In this study, the synergistic effect of carbon nanotube (CNTs) on improving thermal stability, flame retardancy, and electrical conductivity of poly(butylene succinate)/piperazine pyrophosphate (PBS/PAPP) composites was investigated. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrated that the addition of CNTs could improve the thermal stability of PBS/PAPP composites, where the maximum mass loss temperature (Tmax) of PBS/18PAPP-2CNT increased by 9.1 °C in comparison with that of PBS/20PAPP. Meanwhile, PBS/18PAPP-2CNT exhibited the optimal flame retardancy with limited oxygen index (LOI) of 30.1%, V0 rating in UL-94 vertical burning test, and 79.6% reduction on the peak of heat release rate (PHRR) in cone calorimeter test. The synergistic effect of CNTs and PAPP was beneficial to construct high-quality char layer, resulting in the enhanced flame retardancy of PBS. Furthermore, the CNTs could improve the electrical conductivity of PBS/PAPP composites with low percolation threshold of 1.75 wt%, which was ascribed to the "volume excluded effect" of PAPP. Thus, the current work provided an efficient strategy to prepare multifunctional PBS composites to meet various engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A twin-screw extruder was used to fabricate poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)/high-density polyethylene (HDPE) blends (7:3 weight ratio) and blend-based nanocomposites. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), and organoclays (15A and 30B) served as the nanofiller, while maleated HDPE (PEgMA) acted as an efficient compatibilizer for the blend. In the composites, individual nanofillers were mostly localized in HDPE domains, but some fillers were also observed at PBS–HDPE interfaces. The sea–island morphology of the compatibilized blend evolved into a pseudo-co-continuous morphology in the composites. Differential scanning calorimetry results confirmed that PEgMA with HDPE evidently accelerated the crystallization of PBS in the blend. The possible nucleation effect of added fillers on PBS crystallization was obscured by the formation of quasi-connected HDPE domains, causing fewer PBS nucleation sites. The presence of nanofillers improved the thermal stability and burning anti-dripping behavior of the parent blend. The anti-dripping efficiency of added fillers followed the sequence CNT > 15A > 30B > GNP. The rigidity of the blend was increased after the formation of nanocomposites. In particular, adding GNP resulted in 19% and 31% increases in the Young's modulus and flexural modulus, respectively. The development of a pseudo-network structure in the composites was confirmed by measurement of rheological properties. The electrical resistivity of the blend was reduced by more than six orders of magnitude at 3 phr CNT loading, demonstrating the achievement of double percolation morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) were chosen as raw materials and melt blended by a twin screw extruder and pelletized; then, the pellets were extruded into filaments; after that, various PBS/PLA blending samples were prepared by Fused Deposition Molding (FDM) 3D printing technology using the filaments obtained and the effect of the dosage of PBS on technological properties of 3D-printed specimens was investigated. For comparison, the PLA specimen was also prepared by FDM printing. The tensile strength, tensile modulus, thermal stability, and hydrophilicity became poorer with increasing the dosage of PBS, while the flexural strength, flexural modulus, impact strength, and crystallinity increased first and then decreased. The blend containing 10% PBS (10% PBS/PLA) had the greatest flexural strength of 60.12 MPa, tensile modulus of 2360.04 MPa, impact strength of 89.39 kJ/m2, and crystallinity of 7.4%, which were increased by 54.65%, 61.04%, 14.78%, and 51.02% compared to those of printed PLA, respectively; this blend also absorbed the least water than any other specimen when immersed in water. Different from the transparent PLA filament, 10% PBS/PLA filament presented a milky white appearance. The printed 10% PBS/PLA specimen had a smooth surface, while the surface of the printed PLA was rough. All the results indicated that the printed 10% PBS/PLA specimen had good comprehensive properties, including improved mechanical properties, crystallization performance, and surface quality than PLA, as well as proper wettability and water absorption. The prominent conclusion achieved in this work was that 10% PBS/PLA should be an ideal candidate for biodegradable feedstock among all the PBS/PLA blends for FDM 3D printing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fabrication of complex structures usually requires a combination of different advanced manufacturing techniques at different length scales. In this work, we discuss the structure‐properties relationship of recently developed biodegradable poly(butylene succinate‐dilinoleic succinate) (PBS‐DLS) copolymers modified with hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) towards their processibility via 3D printing and electrospinning. Notably, filaments suitable for 3D printing with 1.75 mm diameter were fabricated directly from the reactor after the synthesis of copolymers through extruding polymer melt into a water bath thus overcoming the postprocessing. Two series of copolymers containing 60 wt% and 70 wt% of hard PBS content were synthesized using magnesium‐titanium butoxide as heterometallic catalyst. Differential scanning calorimetry indicated biphasic morphology with low‐glass transition temperature and high‐melting point, which were dependent from the PBS hard segments content. Crystallized copolymers exhibited distinct spherulitic morphology, but presence of crystallites has no adverse effect on warping or delamination of subsequent layers during 3D printing. Furthermore, these copolymers demonstrated also easy processability through electrospinning, yielding uniform nanofibers with diameters ranging from 400 to 600 nm. The addition of 5 wt% PEG to copolymers with higher hard segments content (70 wt%) increased the elasticity up to 830% and improved hydrophilicity of the copolymers. Overall, these findings together with the excellent cell viability of new materials highlight their potential for different applications, including the biomedical sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the compatibilization of PLA/poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) blends using mono‐ and multi‐epoxide POSS (MoEpPOSS and MuEpPOSS) nanoparticles, from a rheological point of view for the first time in the literature. The addition of PBS to PLA decreased the complex viscosity, storage modulus, and loss modulus, indicating weak interactions between polymers. However, the incorporation of MoEpPOSS and MuEpPOSS increased the complex viscosity and storage modulus due to the formation of long polymeric chains or complex polymeric structures through interactions between the epoxide groups of POSS and the end groups of the polymers. The effect was more significant with MuEpPOSS because MuEpPOSS has multiple epoxide groups in its cage structure, leading to stronger interactions with the polymers. POSS incorporation resulted in semicircular and arc‐shaped curves in the Cole‐Cole plots, indicating better dispersion, phase homogeneity, and compatibility. The introduction of POSS also influenced the dynamic loss tangent (tan δ) versus frequency (ω) plot. When POSS was introduced, the tan δ peak decreased and shifted to a higher frequency, indicating improved compatibility, and enhanced interfacial adhesion. These findings indicated that the addition of epoxy‐POSS nanoparticles can effectively compatibilize PLA/PBS blends and enhance their rheological properties, potentially improving their overall performance for various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composites of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), and nano‐sized calcium carbonate (CaCO3) with triallyl isocyanurate (TAIC), glycidyl methacrylate and benzophenone (BP) were prepared by using a double screw extruder and blown into films by extrusion blow molding. After exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light at 10, 20, and 40 J/cm2 of irradiation doses, the selected performances of the irradiated films were investigated. UV irradiation increased the tensile performances but had little effect on the thermal behaviors. Scanning electron microscope revealed that UV irradiation enhanced the connection between the two phases of PLA and PBS. The improvement in tensile properties was attributed to the formation of crosslinking during UV irradiation in the presence of TAIC and BP and the enhancement of the interface bonding between the two. However, excessive exposure reduced the elongation at break and fracture energy, attributed to the molecular chain breakage at high doses. On the other hand, the tensile performances improved and the light transmission decreased with increasing the TAIC content up to 2.5 phr after UV exposure at the same irradiation dose. UV irradiation was revealed to be a simple and effective technique to improve the tensile performances of LA/PBS/CaCO3 films with bicontinuous phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood flour–poly(butylene succinate)–poly(lactic acid) biocomposite samples were prepared by fused-deposition-molding 3D-printing technology, and modifications with glycerol and a silane coupling agent (KH550) were carried out. The samples were then hydrothermally aged. Modification with glycerol and KH550 enhanced the hydrophilicity of the samples and increased their tensile strength. Hydrothermal aging clearly whitened the surfaces of all the samples and made them more hydrophobic. Meanwhile, their tensile properties and thermal stability became poor; a higher hydrothermal aging temperature affected the mechanical properties more negatively. The modified samples turned out to be more resistant to the hydrothermal aging, and modification with KH550 could improve the anti-hydrothermal aging properties of the samples better than that with glycerol, where the tensile properties and the cross-sectional morphologies of the fractured specimens were concerned. Generally, the effects of hydrothermal aging temperature on the physico-mechanical properties of the printed specimens were greater than those by hydrothermal aging time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we compare the reinforcing efficiency of pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) and cultivated flax fiber in unidirectional poly(butylene succinate) composites. Flax, known for robust mechanical properties, is contrasted with PALF, a less studied but potentially sustainable alternative. Short fibers (6 mm) were incorporated at 10 and 20% wt. levels. After two-roll mill mixing, uniaxially aligned prepreg sheets were compression molded into composites. At 10 wt.%, PALF and flax exhibited virtually the same stress–strain curve. Interestingly, PALF excelled at 20 wt.%, defying its inherently lower tensile properties compared to flax. PALF/PBS reached 70.7 MPa flexural strength, 2.0 GPa flexural modulus, and 107.3 °C heat distortion temperature. Comparable values for flax/PBS were 57.8 MPa, 1.7 GPa, and 103.7 °C. X-ray pole figures indicated similar matrix orientations in both composites. An analysis of extracted fibers revealed differences in breakage behavior. This study highlights the potential of PALF as a sustainable reinforcement option. Encouraging the use of PALF in high-performance bio-composites aligns with environmental goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a promising biodegradable polymer, poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) is limited by its inherent flammable and melt-dripping nature. In this study, the effect of molecular sieve 4A (MS4A) as synergist on thermal stability and flame retardancy of PBS/piperazine pyrophosphate (PAPP) composites was investigated. TGA results showed that the addition of MS4A could effectively improve the thermal stability of PBS/PAPP composites both in nitrogen and air atmospheres. Compared to PBS/20PAPP, PBS/17PAPP-3MS4A exhibited the optimal flame retardancy with limited oxygen index of 29.8%, V0 rating in UL-94 vertical burning test, and 86.6% reduction on the peak of heat release rate in cone calorimeter test. According to the analysis for char morphology and microstructure, the combination of PPAP/MS4A mainly imparted its flame retardancy through condensed phase. The enhancement mechanism was ascribed to their catalytic carbonization effect and the migration of MS4A to construct stronger char layer in out interface during combustion. This work provides a new intumescent flame-retardant system with high efficiency and low toxicity, which will greatly promote the widely applications of PBS composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biocomposite materials play an important role to replace the conventional polymer composites in the issue of serious environmental problems from the end‐used products. The relationship between the design and construction of biocomposites structure and their properties is an important factor to the composite application. In this study, the biocomposites of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) reinforced with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) woven fabric to improve mechanical properties of PBS matrix was fabricated by compression molding process. The plain weave PLA woven fabrics showed higher tensile strength (28.9%) and modulus (21.5%) than the twill 2/2 weave pattern. However, the flexural strength and modulus of composites reinforced with multi‐layers PLA woven fabric are higher than the one‐layer reinforcement (57% and 31%, respectively). The impact and peel strength of PLA twill 2/2 weave biocomposite are higher than the plain weaving. The mechanical property of matrix reinforced with plain structure was found to increase on the vertical axis while the twill weaving showed the increase on horizontal axis adhesion between the reinforced PLA woven fabric and the PBS matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of multiblock copolymers comprising a systematic combination of biomass‐originated and biodegradable poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and poly(2‐pyrrolidone) (PA4) units is synthesized with various mean degrees of polymerization (mDP) of each unit. Despite the inherent immiscibility of PBS and PA4, multiblock structure allows to mix the two components in the solution‐cast films from solution. The mechanical properties of the cast films are highly dependent on the mDP of each unit, as demonstrated by tensile tests. The film of the copolymer with the lowest mDP of each unit (PBS: 17, PA4: 10) is transparent and exhibits extremely high elongation at break (> 400%) and high tensile stress (39.5 MPa) with strain hardening. The films with 50% or higher crystallinity are brittle and opaque, while a decrease in crystallinity can result in higher elongation, as revealed by wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent years, the growing amounts and incorrect disposal of solid wastes have created serious negative environmental impacts, including land and water pollution. Chicken litter (CL) is a type of solid waste which is generated during chicken production, the appropriate final destination of which is still subject to technical discussion. Because CL is composed mostly of fibers, proteins, carbohydrates, and different minerals, the use of this material as a filler for the manufacture of polymer materials has been suggested. The main objective of the present work is the manufacture of polymer composites in situ polymerization using CL as a filler and succinic acid and 1,4‐butanediol as monomers, considering that the fiber content in CL is ≈20 wt%. The obtained poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) composites are characterized by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), degradability in distilled water, and compression analyses. The results show that the addition of CL to the mixture do not affect the course of the polycondensation reaction significantly. Furthermore, compression tests show that the compressive strength of test pieces increases with the CL content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Plastics / Zhongguo Suliao is the property of Journal Office of CHINA PLASTICS and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the present study, poly(butylene succinate) (PBSu) and its bionanocomposites containing 1, 2.5, and 5 wt.% biochar (MSP700) were prepared via in situ melt polycondensation in order to investigate the thermal stability and decomposition mechanism of the materials. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements were carried out to analyze the surface area of a biochar sample and PBSu/biochar nanocomposites. From XPS, it was found that only physical interactions were taking place between PBSu matrix and biochar nanoadditive. Thermal stability, decomposition kinetics, and the decomposition mechanism of the pristine PBSu and PBSu/biochar nanocomposites were thoroughly studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py−GC/MS). TGA thermograms depicted that all materials had high thermal stability, since their decomposition started at around 300 °C. However, results indicated a slight reduction in the thermal stability of the PBSu biochar nanocomposites because of the potential catalytic impact of biochar. Py−GC/MS analysis was employed to examine, in more detail, the thermal degradation mechanism of PBSu nanocomposites filled with biochar. From the decomposition products identified by Py−GC/MS after pyrolysis at 450 °C, it was found that the decomposition pathway of the PBSu/biochar nanocomposites took place mainly via β-hydrogen bond scission, which is similar to that which took place for neat PBSu. However, at higher biochar content (5 wt.%), some localized differences in the intensity of the peaks of some specific thermal degradation products could be recognized, indicating that α-hydrogen bond scission was also taking place. A study of the thermal stability and decomposition pathway of PBSu/biochar bionanocomposites is crucial to examine if the new materials fulfill the requirements for further investigation for mulch films in agriculture or in electronics as possible applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fermented polymers like biobased poly(butylene succinate) (BioPBS) have become more relevant as technical substitutes for ductile petrochemical-based polymers but require biogenic functional additives to deaccelerate undesired thermo-oxidative degradation and keep a fully biobased character. In this paper, the influence of coffee parchment (PMT) from two different varieties and processings on the thermo-oxidative stabilization and mechanical properties of poly(butylene succinate) composites up to 20 wt.-% PMT were investigated. Micronized with a TurboRotor mill, both PMT powders differ in particle size and shape, moisture ab- and adsorption behavior and antioxidative properties. It could be shown that pulped-natural PMT consists partially of coffee cherry residues, which leads to a higher total polyphenol content and water activity. The homogeneous PMT from fully washed processing has a higher thermal degradation resistance but consists of fibers with larger diameters. Compounded with the BioPBS and subsequent injection molded, the fully washed PMT leads to higher stiffness and equal tensile strength but lower toughness compared to the pulped-natural PMT, especially at lower deformation speed. Surprisingly, the fully washed PMT showed a higher stability against thermo-oxidative decomposition despite the lower values in the total phenol content and antioxidative activity. The required antioxidative stabilizers might be extracted at higher temperatures from the PMT fibers, making it a suitable biogenic stabilizer for extrusion processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of the eco-friendliness and antimicrobial property of mangosteen pericarp (MP), this research investigates the antibacterial activity of biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) nonwoven fabric coated with MP extract. In the experiment, the MP extract concentrations were varied between 0 (uncoated), 0.3, 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 wt%, and the experimental bacteria strains were Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The results revealed that the MP extract inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. aureus. The tensile strength and the MP extract concentration were positively correlated, while the elongation at break was inversely correlated with the MP extract concentration. Meanwhile, higher MP extract concentrations had minimal effect on the biodegradability of the MP-coated PLA/PBS nonwoven fabrics. Essentially, the MP extract holds promising potential as an antibacterial. The characteristic of this research lies in the use of mangosteen pericarp extract, an agricultural waste, in biodegradable nonwoven fabric to inhibit the bacterial growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemo‐selectivity of titanium tetrabutoxide towards trans‐esterification reaction during polycondensation step in poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) synthesis has been improved by activating the free terminal carboxylic acids in PBS oligomer using trialkyl borates. It is anticipated that the addition of trialkyl borates converts the free terminal carboxylic acid groups in PBS oligoner into a highly reactive acyloxy boron intermediate, which in turn enhances the selectivity of titanium tetrabutoxide towards trans‐esterification reaction to give the corresponding relatively high molecular weight PBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of a limited number of functional groups on poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) chains by covalent bonding can impart new properties to the polymer without modifying its thermal and mechanical properties. In pursuit of a viable approach to obtain light- and heat-stabilized PBS samples, the nitroxide radical coupling (NRC) reaction between PBS macroradicals and the 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (BHB-TEMPO), a functionalizing agent bearing a sterically-hindered antioxidant phenol moiety, is here proposed. The reaction was initiated by peroxide and carried out in solution and in a melt. The functionalized materials were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) analysis to gain structural information and by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to investigate the thermal properties. In addition, films of the samples were subjected to thermal and photo-oxidative aging to assess their resistance to degradative processes. Finally, the PBS film with the highest degree of functionalization showed the ability to protect β-carotene, a molecule found in food and drugs and that is very sensitive to UV light, from degradation. This result suggests the use of this material (either alone or blended with other biopolyesters) for biodegradable and compostable active packaging.

Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) is one of the contaminants in the Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) recycling process. It is known that high contents of PBS in PET significantly reduce PET properties, but the effect of low contents on PET has yet to be studied. This work studied the influence of low contents of PBS on recycled PET. Five formulations of PBS in PET were prepared, and the properties of relative affinity, mechanical, thermal, and disintegration under composting conditions were assessed. The solubility parameter indicated that PET and PBS are miscible. However, FESEM images show slight marks of immiscibility, and the mechanical characterization results showed that PBS, even in low contents, reduced the mechanical properties of recycled PET, which proves that the materials are not miscible in the studied contents. The DSC results indicated that PBS could not be quickly detected in PET. However, its presence can be inferred by the reduction in PET crystallization degree. Finally, the presence of PBS up to 15 wt.% does neither affect the disintegration under composting conditions nor the thermal stability of recycled PET. The drop in mechanical properties shows that PBS must be removed from the PET waste stream to preserve the quality of the material.

The techniques for the detection and control of cyclic esterification (CE) in biodegradable polyesters are presented. It is pointed out that CE can be extracted by extraction or migration and then detected using GC-MS or LC-MS depending on their volatility, with LC-MS techniques being more commonly used due to the generally poor volatility of CE. CE was detected in several typical biodegradable polyesters such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and poly(butylene adipate-terephthalate) (PBAT) with repeating units less than 10; both the improvement of the polymerization process and the use of organic solvents to wash the biodegradable polyester particles can effectively reduce the content of CE, and the washing strategy is relatively more convenient and efficient.

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) incorporated with poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) through in situ reactive blending is proposed to retard thermal shrinkage. Succinic anhydride (SA) with varied contents (0.01–0.5 phr) was used as a reactive compatibilizer to enhance miscibility between PLA and PBS phases. The success of PLA chemically bound with PBS chains through simple esterification to form PLA‐SA‐PBS phase is confirmed and quantified using an X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy technique. The binding energy intensity ratio of ester and hydrocarbon in the PLA/PBS/SA blend with 0.5 phr SA increases for two‐fold, as compared to the PLA/PBS blend. The good interfacial adhesion of PLA and PBS phases is achievable with SA content up to 0.1 phr. In addition, the PLA‐SA‐PBS molecules preferentially support crystallization of PBS phase with increased degree of crystallinity (Xc,PBS) by ~15%. These enhanced homogeneity of PLA/PBS/SA blend and high Xc,PBS trigger the increased tensile strength to 50 MPa, and substantially reduced oxygen permeation coefficient approximately 10 times. Remarkably, the interpenetration of PLA‐SA‐PBS phase in amorphous PLA region coexisting with uniformly dispersed PBS crystals inhibits the PLA chain relaxation and deformation at elevated temperatures, leading to maintaining dimensional stability of PLA/PBS/SA films without shrinkage at 100°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides the enzymatic degradation behavior of the polylactide (PLA)/poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) blend systems by using their respective enzymes, proteinase K and lipase. In a previous report, l-PLA/PBS blend monolayers with ≥ 50 mol% l-PLA showed good compatibility and a slow hydrolytic rate. To support this study, the degradation behavior of the PLA/PBS blend systems was confirmed with Langmuir technique and AFM. The blend system with poor compatibility showed rapid degradability. However, as the amount of PLA exceeded 50 mol%, the degradation was insignificant because partial compatibility between the two polymers lowered the degradation rate of PBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic approach in improving the efficiency of titanium tetrabutoxide towards the synthesis of high molecular weight PBS is described in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biobased poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) represents one promising sustainable alternative to petroleum-based polymers. Its sensitivity to thermo-oxidative degradation is one reason for its limited application. In this research, two different varieties of wine grape pomaces (WPs) were investigated as fully biobased stabilizers. WPs were prepared via simultaneous drying and grinding to be used as bio-additives or functional fillers at higher filling rates. The by-products were characterized in terms of composition and relative moisture, in addition to particle size distribution analysis, TGA, and assays to determine the total phenolic content and the antioxidant activity. Biobased PBS was processed with a twin-screw compounder with WP contents up to 20 wt.-%. The thermal and mechanical properties of the compounds were investigated with DSC, TGA, and tensile tests using injection-molded specimens. The thermo-oxidative stability was determined using dynamic OIT and oxidative TGA measurements. While the characteristic thermal properties of the materials remained almost unchanged, the mechanical properties were altered within expected ranges. The analysis of the thermo-oxidative stability revealed WP as an efficient stabilizer for biobased PBS. This research shows that WP, as a low-cost and biobased stabilizer, improves the thermo-oxidative stability of biobased PBS while maintaining its key properties for processing and technical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the use of titanium tetraalkoxide in combination with trialkyl borate as an efficient catalyst system For the synthesis of high molecular weight PBS. It is observed that, the addition of trialkyl borates during polycondensation reaction results in the formation of high molecular weight PBS. This might be due to the activation of free terminal carboxylic acids in PBS oligomer by trialkyl borates via the formation of highly reactive acyloxyboron intermediate. A plausible mechanism for the activation of free terminal carboxylic acids by trialkoxy borates has also been proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]