Molecular and Supramolecular Changes in Polybutylene Succinate (PBS) and Polybutylene Succinate Adipate (PBSA) Copolymer during Degradation in Various Environmental Conditions.

Michał Puchalski,Izabella Krucińska,Grzegorz Szparaga,Sławomir Sztajnowski,Tadeusz Biela,Agnieszka Gutowska

doi:10.3390/polym10030251

Abstract

In this paper, the influence of the various degradation conditions, on the molecular and supramolecular structure of polybutylene succinate (PBS) and polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA) copolymer during degradation is described. The experiment was carried out by the use of injection molded samples and normalized conditions of biodegradation in soil, composting and artificial weathering. Materials were studied by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) coupled with multiangle laser light scattering (MALLS) detection and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). Additionally, the physical and mechanical properties of the samples were determined. The performed experiments clearly show difference impacts of the selected degradation conditions on the macroscopic, supramolecular and molecular parameters of the studied aliphatic polyesters. The structural changes in PBS and PBSA explain the observed changes in the physical and mechanical properties of the obtained injection molded samples.

Highlights

In recent years, pro-ecological trends in waste reduction have led to the substitution of durable polymers with biodegradable polymers
These results indicate the strong degradation of both polymers were composted for more than 1 or 4 weeks were fragmented into smaller pieces, which prevented in compost,testing which(Figure is probably effect ofelongation its composition being more complex than soil from a mechanical
The analysis of the molecular parameters and supramolecular structures of both polymers during degradation showed that more significant changes occurred for polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA)

Summary

Introduction

Pro-ecological trends in waste reduction have led to the substitution of durable polymers with biodegradable polymers. Thermoplastic aliphatic polyesters are promising alternatives [1,2]. In this group of polymers, polybutylene succinate (PBS) is an interesting material from an application standpoint, as its mechanical properties are similar to those of popular polymers, such as polypropylene (PP) [3]. Polybutylene succinate (PBS) is a biodegradable aliphatic polyester produced by the polycondensation of succinic acid (SA) and 1,4-butanediol (BD) [4]. The synthesis and characterization of PBS and polybutylene adipate (PBA), which is synthesized from 1,4-butanediol (BD) and adipate acid (AA), are extensively described in the literature using mathematical models [5,6]. Due to the high crystallinity and good thermal properties of the homopolymers, a copolymer of PBS and PBA has been used in Polymers 2018, 10, 251; doi:10.3390/polym10030251 www.mdpi.com/journal/polymers

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Discussion

Conclusion