Long-Chain Branched Bio-Based Poly(butylene dodecanedioate) Copolyester Using Pentaerythritol as Branching Agent:...

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Biodegradable Polymers

Background:

• Long-chain branched structures improve melt strength and blow-molding in polyesters.
• Biodegradable polyesters are crucial for sustainable material development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize branched poly(butylene dodecanedioate) (PBD) using pentaerythritol (PER) as a branching agent.
• To investigate the effect of PER-induced branching on PBD's structural, mechanical, and thermal properties.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of branched PBD using PER as a branching agent.
• Characterization using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Proton Spectra (¹H NMR) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR).
• Evaluation of mechanical properties (impact strength, tensile modulus), crystallization behavior (Wide-angle X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry), and rheological properties (dynamic viscoelastics).

Main Results:

• Introduction of 0.25-0.5 mol% PER generated branching and crosslinking structures in PBD.
• Notched impact strength increased by 85% and tensile modulus by 206% with 1 mol% PER.
• PER-branched PBD exhibited enhanced crystallization ability compared to linear PBD.
• Shear-thickening behavior was observed in branched PBD under low shear rates.

Conclusions:

• Pentaerythritol effectively introduces branching into PBD, significantly improving mechanical performance and crystallization.
• Branched PBD demonstrates superior properties, including enhanced impact and tensile strength, making it a promising material for demanding applications.
• The study highlights the potential of controlled branching to tailor the properties of biodegradable polyesters.