Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 14, 2025

Fabricating Superhydrophobic Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications
Published on: August 28, 2015
Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/thermoplastic starch/zeolite 5A films: Effects of compounding sequence and
Kannika Yimnak1, Ranumas Thipmanee2, Amporn Sane2
1Department of Packaging and Materials Technology, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
Abstract:
This work investigated the effect of the compounding sequence and the glycerol content on poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/thermoplastic starch/zeolite 5A (PBAT/TPS/Z5A) composites. The composite pellets and films were prepared by an extrusion process using a PBAT:TPS ratio of 60:40, Z5A loading of 3 wt%, and glycerol contents of 35 and 40 parts per hundred parts of starch (phs). Prior to blown film extrusion, the composite pellets were produced by two compounding sequences: sequence I (SI)-mixing PBAT with Z5A prior to blending with TPS; sequence II (SII)-mixing TPS with Z5A before blending with PBAT. The SII compounding sequence provided improved mixing between PBAT and TPS, leading to increased continuous phase region and a reduced TPS dispersed phase size. Increasing the glycerol content decreased the viscosity and size of the TPS dispersed phase and gave rise to a more uniform dispersion of the TPS domains and Z5A particles. Compounding Z5A via the SII sequence with a glycerol content of 40 phs effectively improved the mixing and the performance of the PBAT/TPS blend.
Related Concept Videos
Plasticizers
Plasticizers function by using surface-active agents to create repulsive electrostatic forces between cement particles. This dispersion enhances the concrete's...
Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity
Superplasticizers
Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers
As the step-growth polymerization involves step-wise condensation of monomers, the molecular weight also builds up eventually. Consequently, high molecular weight polymers are obtained at the late stages of the polymerization, where 99% of monomers have been consumed.
The extent of the...
Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters
Polyesters are commonly prepared from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; the crude product is known as poly(ethylene terephthalate) or PET. However, polyesters are synthesized industrially by transesterification of dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol at 150 °C. The two reactants and the polymer...
Polymer Classification: Architecture

