Synthesis of High-Performance and Biodegradable Polymer Blends Based on Poly(butylene succinate) and Grafted...

Area of Science:

• Polymer Science
• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

• Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) is a biodegradable polymer with limited mechanical strength.
• Enhancing the mechanical properties of PBS is crucial for expanding its applications.
• Grafted polyrotaxane (GPR) offers potential for polymer modification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel, high-strength polymer blends using PBS modified with GPR.
• To evaluate the mechanical properties, morphology, and biodegradability of the modified PBS.
• To establish a new design guideline for enhancing biodegradable plastics.

Main Methods:

• A two-step reactive kneading method was employed for blend synthesis.
• The first step involved transesterification using an organo-titanium catalyst (Ti).
• The second step involved urethanization using hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI).

Main Results:

• The optimized blend [PBS/GPR10/Ti]-HDI exhibited a seven-fold increase in Izod impact strength compared to unmodified PBS.
• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a transition from brittle to ductile fracture.
• The modification strategy preserved PBS's soil biodegradability and improved marine degradability.

Conclusions:

• The developed two-step reactive kneading method effectively enhances the mechanical properties of PBS.
• Simultaneous crosslinking of GPR and chain extension of PBS contribute to improved toughness.
• This approach provides a viable strategy for designing high-performance biodegradable plastics with tailored degradability.