Synthesis, mechanical properties and enzymatic degradation of biodegradable poly(butylene carbonate-co-terephthalate)/organically modified layered double hydroxide nanocomposites

Abstract

Two new various compositions of biodegradable aliphatic-aromatic poly(butylene carbonate-co-terephthalate) (PBCT) successfully synthesized through transesterification and polycondensation process were identified using 1H-NMR spectra. A series of PBCT/stearic acid-modified layered double hydroxide (SA-LDH) nanocomposites were fabricated using solution mixing process. The morphology of PBCT/SA-LDH nanocomposites were examined using wide-angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Both results revealed that the stacking layers of SA-LDH were fully exfoliated into the PBCT polymer matrix. The storage modulus at − 70 °C of PBCT/SA-LDH nanocomposites was greatly improved as compared to that of neat PBCT. The enzymatic degradation of PBCT/SA-LDH nanocomposites was examined using lipase from Pseudomonas sp. The weight loss of PBCT/SA-LDH nanocomposites increases with increasing loading of SA-LDH, recommending that the existence of SA-LDH enhances the degradation of the PBCT copolymers. This result might contribute to the lower degree of crystallinity for PBCT/SA-LDH nanocomposites. The result of MTT assay demonstrates that the PBCT/SA-LDH composites were appropriate for cell growth and might have a potential application used as biomedical materials.