Toughening Brittle Poly(ethylene Furanoate) with Linear Low-Density Polyethylene via Interface Modulation Using...

Area of Science:

• Polymer Science
• Materials Science
• Biorenewable Polymers

Background:

• Poly(ethylene furandicarboxylate) (PEF) shows promise as a biobased alternative to poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) due to superior gas barrier properties.
• However, PEF's limited mechanical properties restrict its widespread application.
• Toughening PEF is crucial for unlocking its full application potential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the mechanical properties of poly(ethylene furandicarboxylate) (PEF) by incorporating linear low-density polyethylene (PE).
• To investigate the effects of reactive compatibilization on PEF/PE blend morphology and properties.
• To benchmark PEF/PE blends against similar poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/PE blends.

Main Methods:

• Melt blending of PEF and PE with reactive compatibilizers (SEBS-g-MA or PE-g-MA).
• Analysis of wettability and spreading coefficients to predict compatibilizer location.
• Morphological characterization of PEF/PE blends.
• Mechanical testing (elongation at break, tensile toughness) of the compatibilized blends.

Main Results:

• Compatibilizers (SEBS-g-MA and PE-g-MA) favorably located at the PEF/PE interface.
• Reactive compatibilization altered blend morphology from coarse to dispersed, fibrillar, or cocontinuous.
• SEBS-g-MA compatibilization led to significant improvements in PEF ductility.
• An 800% increase in elongation at break and a 250% increase in tensile toughness were observed with SEBS-g-MA.

Conclusions:

• Reactive compatibilization effectively toughens PEF/PE blends.
• SEBS-g-MA is a promising compatibilizer for enhancing PEF ductility.
• Improved mechanical properties of PEF open new applications for biobased flexible materials in packaging.