Production and Characterization of PBAT Reinforced with Clay and Graphene Oxide Nanosheets—A Comparative Study

Abstract

The poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), a biodegradable polymer, is among the most promising materials to be considered as environmentally friendly high performance biodegradable plastics. However, the mechanical properties of PBAT are not the best for several applications. According to the literature, the properties of the biodegradable polymer can be improved by addition of a small amount of nanofillers, such as clay, silica, and graphene. The objective of this study is to compare the effect of the addition of Cloisite clay and graphene oxide (GO) on the properties of flexible films based on PBAT matrix. The composite films based on PBAT with addition of Cloisite (2.0 wt%) and PBAT composite films with addition of Cloisite and GO (0.1–0.2 wt%) were prepared by extrusion, using a twin-screw extruder and a flat die single extruder. The effects of the addition of Cloisite clay and graphene oxide on mechanical and thermal properties of films were evaluated by mechanical and water absorption tests, FE-SEM, XRD, and Raman analysis.