A miscibility study on biodegradable poly butylene succinate/polydioxanone blends

Abstract

Poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) and poly (dioxanone) (PDO) blends, both biodegradable semi crystalline polyester and poly (ether-ester) respectively, were prepared with the ratio of PBS/PDO ranging from 80/20 to 20/80 by the solvent evaporation method. The miscibility behavior of PBS/PDO blends in aqueous solution has been determined by dilute solution viscometry. Huggins plots of each homopolymer and polymer blend have been determined in aqueous solution at 25, 30 and 40 °C temperatures. From the data obtained from Huggins plots the miscibility parameters ΔB, α, and μ have been calculated. In addition to solution viscosity measurements, blend films were tested by SEM and FTIR analysis methods for the investigation of blend miscibility in the solid state. The results have shown that PBS/PDO blend with a blend composition of (80/20) is immiscible in solution with negative miscibility parameter values for ΔB, α, and μ respectively. SEM results indicate this immiscibility as well.