Abstract
In recent year, bioplastics have become more popular resulting from the growing concerns on environmental issues and the rising fossil fuel price. However, their applications were limited by its mechanical and thermal properties. The aim of this research is thus to improve mechanical and thermal properties of PBS bioplastic films by reinforcing with silica. Due to the poor interfacial interaction between the PBS matrix and silica, glycidyl methacrylate grafted poly(butylene succinate) (PBS-g-GMA) was used as a compatibilizer in order to improve the interaction between bioplastic films and filler. PBS-g-GMA was prepared in a twin-screw extruder and analyzed by the FTIR spectrometer. PBS and silica were then mixed in a twin-screw extruder and processed into films by a chill-roll cast extruder. The effects of silica loading on thermal and mechanical properties of the prepared bioplastic films were investigated. It was found that the mechanical properties of PBS/silica composite films were improved when 1%wt of silica was added. However, the mechanical properties decreased with increasing silica loading due to the agglomeration of silica particles. The results also show that the silica/PBS films with PBS-g-GMA possessed improved mechanical properties over the films without the compatibilizer.
Highlights
Nowadays, biodegradable polymeric materials attract much more attention due to the fact that plastic waste has caused serious environment pollution
Two extra shoulders characteristic of ester carboxyl groups were observed at 1,731 cm-1 in the modified PBS-g-glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) spectrum
The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis was carried out using METTLER TOLEDO DSC-1 machine (Switzerland) in a nitrogen atmosphere
Summary
Biodegradable polymeric materials attract much more attention due to the fact that plastic waste has caused serious environment pollution. Poly(butylene succinate) or PBS is an aliphatic biodegradable polyester which is commercially available. PBS is synthesized by polycondensation of succinic acid with 1,4-butanediol. Despite its good processablity and chemical resistance, its softness and poor barrier gas limit the applications of PBS [1]. Some researchers have attempted to improve properties of PBS by mixing with reinforcing filler i.e. carbon black, organoclay, or silica. It is difficult to disperse the filler particles in polymer matrix homogeneously because filler particles have strong tendency to agglomerate, which is caused by the poor interaction between filler particles and polymer matrix, resulting in reduced mechanical properties
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