Poly Butylene Research Articles

Analysis of agglomeration and interfacial properties in PBT/nano-Sb2O3 composites

In this paper, nano-Sb2O3 particles and poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) powders were dispersed by high speed rotating and high energy ball milling methods, and then the PBT/nano-Sb2O3 composites were prepared by a twin screw extruder. The agglomeration level and interfacial properties between nano-Sb2O3 particles and PBT matrix are quantitatively analyzed by the tensile strength and Young’s moduli of the nanocomposites. The calculated results show that the agglomeration level of nano-Sb2O3 particles in the PBT matrix increases with increasing the nano-Sb2O3 particles content. Because the agglomerated nano-Sb2O3 particles reduce the interfacial area in the PBT matrix, the interfacial adhesion sharply decreases at the high nano-Sb2O3 particles content. In addition, the nano-Sb2O3/PBT composites dispersed by the HEBM process have better interfacial properties due to the lower agglomeration level than that of HSR.

Treatment of coronary micro-circulation thrombus by dodecafluoropentane acoustic vaporizable nano-droplet with ultrasound irradiation: an in vitro experimental study

Objective To explore the clinical value of a new tactic with novel dodecafluoropentane (C5F12, DDFP) acoustic vaporizable nano-droplets for the therapy of coronary micro-circulation thrombolysis. Methods Group A was poly butylene succinate buffer solution as blank control; group B was SonoVue microbubbles; group C was DDFP acoustic vaporizable nano-droplets, which were produced with emulsion process by ultrasonic oscillation instrument and rotary evaporator. The size of the nano-droplet was tested by Malvern laser particle size detector and observed with fluorescence microscope. The stability and efficiency of cavitation effect of group C for thrombolysis were tested in an in-vitro artificial vascular system with arterial thrombus model, comparing with group A and B. Weights and pathological sections of the inserted thrombus before and after the thrombolysis in these groups were compared for the thrombolytic efficiency. Results The average size of DDFP nano-droplets were (424.7±30.2)nm. More than 75% of the nano-droplets were ranged from 300-750 nm. The fluorescence microscope showed the DDFP nano-droplets were uniformed round-shaped and stable-structured with favorable dispersity; the nano-droplets had gradually turned into over 3 μm microbubbles under ultrasound irradiation. The thrombus weight loss after thrombolysis in group C [(199.0±35.8)mg, (32.1±4.4)%] was significantly larger than those in group A [(30.2±17.8)mg, (5.0±2.4)%] and B [ (72.6±20.7)mg, (12.7±2.8)%] (all P<0.01). Conclusions DDFP vaporizable nano-droplets with ultrasound irradiation is effective for thrombus elimination in coronary micro-circulation through lasting and stable cavitation effect. Key words: Sonication; Vaporizable nano-droplet; Thromboembolism; Thrombolytic therapy

Short-term organic carbon migration from polymeric materials in contact with chlorinated drinking water

Polymeric materials are widely used in drinking water distribution systems. These materials could release organic carbon that supports bacterial growth. To date, the available migration assays for polymeric materials have not included the potential influence of chlorination on organic carbon migration behavior. Hence, we established a migration and growth potential protocol specifically for analysis of carbon migration from materials in contact with chlorinated drinking water. Four different materials were tested, including ethylene propylene dienemethylene (EPDM), poly-ethylene (PEX b and PEX c) and poly-butylene (PB). Chlorine consumption rates decreased gradually over time for EPDM, PEXc and PB. In contrast, no free chlorine was detected for PEXb at any time during the 7 migration cycles. Total organic carbon (TOC) and assimilable organic carbon (AOC) was evaluated in both chlorinated and non-chlorinated migrations. TOC concentrations for EPDM and PEXb in chlorinated migrations were significantly higher than non-chlorinated migrations. The AOC results showed pronounced differences among tested materials. AOC concentrations from chlorinated migration waters of EPDM and PB were higher compared to non-chlorinated migrations, whereas the opposite trend was observed for PEXb and PEXc. There was also a considerable difference between tested materials with regards to bacterial growth potential. The results revealed that the materials exposed to chlorine-influenced migration still exhibited a strong biofilm formation potential. The overall results suggested that the choice in material would make a considerable difference in chlorine consumption and carbon migration behavior in drinking water distribution systems.

Nanoparticles of a polyaspartamide-based brush copolymer for modified release of sorafenib: In vitro and in vivo evaluation

In this paper, we describe the preparation of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with sorafenib for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A synthetic brush copolymer, named PHEA-BIB-ButMA (PBB), was synthesized by Atom Trasnfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) starting from the α-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-d,l-aspartamide (PHEA) and poly butyl methacrylate (ButMA). Empty and sorafenib loaded PBB NPs were, then, produced by using a dialysis method and showed spherical morphology, colloidal size, negative ζ potential and the ability to allow a sustained sorafenib release in physiological environment.Sorafenib loaded PBB NPs were tested in vitro on HCC cells in order to evaluate their cytocompatibility and anticancer efficacy if compared to free drug. Furthermore, the enhanced anticancer effect of sorafenib loaded PBB NPs was demonstrated in vivo by using a xenograft model, by first allowing Hep3B cells to grow subcutaneously into nude mice and then administering sorafenib as free drug or incorporated into NPs via intraperitoneal injection. Finally, in vivo biodistribution studies were performed, showing the ability of the produced drug delivery system to accumulate in a significant manner in the solid tumor by passive targeting, thanks to the enhanced permeability and retention effect.

Preparation of random poly(butylene alkylate-co-terephthalate)s with different methylene group contents: crystallization and degradation kinetics

Random copolyesters having 1,4-butanediol units were synthesized from a transesterification process between homopolymers constituted by aliphatic dicarboxylates (i.e. succinate, adipate or sebacate) and the aromatic therephthalate derivative, as verified by NMR spectroscopy. Biodegradability of resulting copolyesters was studied via enzymatic hydrolysis using Pseudomonas cepacia lipase at pH = 7.2 and 37 °C. Kinetics of degradation showed that in all cases the degradation rate decreased after 19 days of exposure. The observed glass transition temperatures, T g, of the random copolyesters showed a non-linear dependence on composition, a feature that was explained in terms of the internal stiffening effect of butylene terephthalate units. Copolymers with higher aliphatic (i.e. 50 and 70 mol-%) and methylene (i.e. adipate and sebacate units) contents showed double melting peaks in DSC thermograms. These copolyesters resulted in two different crystalline rich phases after melt-crystallization and subsequent cooling. The ratio between these phases logically depended on the predominant aliphatic or aromatic dicarboxylate content. The copolymers initially crystallized via the aromatic units through a heterogeneous nucleation and a spherulitic growth. The presence of aliphatic dicarboxylate units hindered the beginning of the crystallization process, but the overall growth kinetic constant was similar for all samples. The secondary nucleation constants were determined and showed higher values for samples with higher adipate and sebacate contents.

Identification of Cellulosimicrobium sp., a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-degrading bacterium isolated from washed rind cheese, Pont-l’évêque lait cru

Environmental pollution caused by commodity plastics has become a global issue. As a result, biodegradable plastics have found multiple applications in recent years, particularly in the manufacture of food packaging containers. However, microbes present in fermented foods have been found to degrade biodegradable plastics. In this study, we report, for the first time, a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P(3HB))-degrading bacterium isolated from a type of washed rind cheese, Pont-l'eveque lait cru. The P(3HB)-degrading isolate, designated as PONα, was characterized in detail. The strain was found to be gram-positive and filamentous-shaped; the DNA G+C content was 71.6 mol%, and anteiso-C15:0 was found to be the major fatty acid. The strain grew well in the range of 37–40 °C and formed a large clear zone on P(3HB) medium at 37 °C. The phenotypic properties and phylogenetic inference indicated that strain PONα is closely related to Cellulosimicrobium cellulans. Strain PONα formed a clear zone on P(3HB), LB with P(3HB), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), and chitin media plates, whereas no clear zone was found on poly(ethylene succinate) (PESu), poly(butylene succinate) (PBSu), poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate) (PBAT), poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) (PBSA), and olive oil media plates. Relatively higher P(3HB) hydrolytic activity was observed in the culture supernatant under the co-existence of P(3HB) and the cheese, suggesting that a component of the cheese plays an important role in the hydrolytic activity. These results indicate that microbiota in fermented foods such as cheese can degrade biodegradable plastics, thereby reducing their quality. Therefore, because P(3HB) may be degraded by the microbiota present in cheese, these findings may affect the application of P(3HB) in cheese packaging.

고분자 사슬연장제를 이용한 폴리유산 / 폴리부틸렌 아디페이트테레프탈레이트 복합필름의 제조 및 특성 분석

Poly lactic acid(PLA) and poly butylene adipate-co-terephthalate(PBAT) film was prepared using a twin extruder. PLA (25%) and PBAT (75%) were mixed with various ratio of chain extenders, such as Joncryl® and hexamethylene diisocyanate(HDI) to improve the mechanical and thermal properties of produced bio composite films. Tensile strengths of films were steadily increased with increasing ratio of chain extender. The tensile strength of control films was about 25 MPa, and the tensile strength of films with combined chain extenders was above 40 MPa. The films with Joncryl ® resulted in improved tensile strength, while the film with HDI alone showed improved percent elongation at break. By adding chain extenders into PLA/PBAT resin, the cold crystallization temperature (Tcc) and decomposition temperature (Td) of the produced bio composite films increased. It revealed that the addition of two types of chain extenders was efficient way to get PLA/PBAT film with improved strength and elongation.

Experimental study on structure and mechanical properties of hemp/PBTG composites with fiber contents and thermal exposures

Most materials used in daily life are polymeric materials based on petrochemistry. The used polymeric materials can cause land pollution and air pollution after landfill or incineration. In contrast, natural fiber reinforced (NFR) composites are more suitable for the environment, however the reliability in terms of the durability and weatherability of NFR composites is still lacking. Thus, NFR composites require the reliability involved with durability and weatherability. In this work, poly(butylene terephthalate-co-glutarate) (PBTG), with a chemical structure similar to biodegradable PBAT, was used as the matrix in the composites, and hemp fibers were used as the reinforcement. Hemp/PBTG composites were fabricated by stacking hemp-fiberwebs and PBTG films with various fiber contents and thermal exposure times. Characteristics of the composites, such as the morphological structure, chemical structure, tensile properties, compressive properties, flexural properties, and impact strength, were analyzed to obtain the effects of fiber volume fraction and thermal exposure. As a result, hemp/PBTG composites were hardened in proportion to fiber volume fractions, and the hardening behavior of the composites increased tensile strength and flexural strength. However, the hardened structure of the composites decreased the impact strength and compressive strength of the composites. On the other hand, the mechanical properties of hemp/PBTG composites with thermal exposure times, were governed significantly by the brittleness behavior of the resin and the increased crystallinity of hemp fibers. Thus, the hemp fibers contributed to the improvements on structural stability, tensile strength and flexural strength of the hemp/PBTG composites, and increased the thermal durability of the composites with various thermal exposures.

The impact of DO and salinity on microbial community in poly(butylene succinate) denitrification reactors for recirculating aquaculture system wastewater treatment

The interactions between environmental factors and bacterial community shift in solid-phase denitrification are crucial for optimum operation of a reactor and to achieve maximum treatment efficiency. In this study, Illumina high-throughput sequencing was applied to reveal the effects of different operational conditions on bacterial community distribution of three continuous operated poly(butylene succinate) biological denitrification reactors used for recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) wastewater treatment. The results indicated that salinity decreased OTU numbers and diversity while dissolved oxygen (DO) had no obvious influence on OTU numbers. Significant microbial community composition differences were observed among and between three denitrification reactors under varied operation conditions. This result was also demonstrated by cluster analysis (CA) and detrended correspondence analysis (DCA). Hierarchical clustering and redundancy analysis (RDA) was performed to test the relationship between environmental factors and bacterial community compositions and result indicated that salinity, DO and hydraulic retention time (HRT) were the three key factors in microbial community formation. Besides, Simplicispira was detected under all operational conditions, which worth drawing more attention for nitrate removal. Moreover, the abundance of nosZ gene and 16S rRNA were analyzed by real-time PCR, which suggested that salinity decreased the proportion of denitrifiers among whole bacterial community while DO had little influence on marine reactors. This study provides an overview of microbial community shift dynamics in solid-phase denitrification reactors when operation parameters changed and proved the feasibility to apply interval aeration for denitrification process based on microbial level, which may shed light on improving the performance of RAS treatment units.

Miscibility Study of Poly(Butylene Succinate) and Pine-Gum Blends

Miscibility between poly (butylene succinate) [PBS], a semi-crystalline polymer with a natural gum extracted from the pine tree (Pinus Caribaea – Hondurensis), was investigated in solution cast blends using Differential Scanning Calorimetry [DSC] and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy [FTIR]. The spherulite morphology of PBS in the blends was observed with polarized optical microscopy [POM]. Depression in the equilibrium melting temperature of PBS in the blends was determined using the Hoffman-Weeks plot method. The depression in the crystallization temperature of the blends with increasing pine gum ratio and the emergence of extinction rings in the spherulites of the blends confirmed the blends to be miscible at the molecular level. Infrared spectroscopy indicated that interactions occurred between the hydroxyl groups of the pine-gum and the carbonyl group of PBS.

Effect of Surfactant Concentration on Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Poly(Butylene Succinate)/Organoclay Composites

ABSTRACTComposite materials consisting of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and montmorillonite (MMT), modified to various extents using trihexyltetradecylphosphonium chloride (THTDP) cations, were prepared using a simple melt intercalation technique. The surfactant contents were varied, i.e. 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, and 1.2 times the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the MMT. The intercalation of the surfactant molecules into MMT layers, confirmed by the increase in interlayer spacing and significant changes in the morphology of the modified MMT, facilitated the dispersion of the clay in the PBS matrix. The properties of the PBS-based composites were changed with increasing surfactant content. The melting and crystallization temperatures increased and the degree of crystallinity (χc) decreased. The storage modulus was significantly enhanced below the glass transition temperature (Tg), and Tg shifted to a higher temperature, with a maximum at a surfactant loading of 0.6 CEC. The mechanical properties, including tensile strength, flexural strength, flexural modulus and impact strength, increased and then decreased with surfactant loading, with the maximum observed also at a surfactant loading of 0.6 CEC. In conclusion, an ideal balance between thermal and mechanical properties can be obtained at a surfactant quantity equivalent to 0.6 times the clay CEC. Moreover, all the composites exhibited obvious improvement in thermal and mechanical properties as compared to those of neat PBS.

Interfacial Interaction Analysis of Blends of Poly(vinylidene fluoride) and Poly(ethylene–butylacrylate–glycidyl methacrylate) Compatibilized by Poly(butylene succinate): Morphologies, Rheological Behavior, and Mechanical Properties

ABSTRACTPoly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and poly(ethylene–butylacrylate–glycidyl methacrylate) (PTW) are polymers with weak interfacial adhesion. Blends based on PVDF and PTW (50/50 w/w) with poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) (0, 1, 3, 5, 7 wt%) are obtained by compression molding. The estimation of interfacial interaction among PVDF, PTW, and PBS and the properties of PVDF/PTW blends are investigated. The optimal content of PBS to form a co-continuous morphology in PVDF/PTW blends is proposed, indicating that the beneficial effect of PBS (7 wt%) on interfacial adhesion is observed. Overall, estimating interfacial adhesion is a critical issue for designing PVDF/PTW blend with excellent performance, which has a prospect in coating.

Effect of Compound Surface Treatment on the Performance of Poly(butylene succinate)/Chemithermomechanical Pulp Fiber Composites

ABSTRACTChemithermomechanical pulp fiber was pretreated by alkali solution to alter the surface characteristics of fibers. The untreated and treated fibers were used to prepare poly(butylene succinate)/chemithermomechanical pulp fiber composites with or without the incorporation of cellulose fatty acid ester (hydroxyethyl cellulose lauric acid ester). X-ray photoelectron spectrum analysis shows that the O/C ratio on the fiber surface increased after alkali treatment, indicating that part of lignin was removed during alkali treatment process. Scanning electron microcopy images indicate that the fiber surface was changed to rough after alkali treatment. The modification effect of hydroxyethyl cellulose lauric acid ester reflects as the improvement of fiber order in matrix, together with the enhancement of interfacial bonding, whereas, the modification effect of alkali treatment is mainly due to the enhancement of interfacial bonding. The integrated mechanical properties of composite prepared by alkali-treated fibers are superior to those of composite prepared by hydroxyethyl cellulose lauric acid ester-treated fibers. The combination of these two modification methods favors the enhancement of tensile and impact strengths of composite. However, in comparison with the composite prepared only by alkali treatment, the flexural strength and modulus would be despaired in a certain degree. When fibers were alkali treated, the shear viscosity of composite exhibited a larger increase, whereas the shear viscosity of composite prepared fibers with hydroxyethyl cellulose lauric acid ester treatment exhibits a slight decrease.

Development of Biodegradable Films of Cassava Starch and Poly (butylene Adipate Co-terephthalate): Effects of Oregano Essential Oil and Potassium Sorbate in Films Characterization

Four samples of thermoplastic starch (STP) and poly (butylene adipate co-terephthalate) (PBAT) films added with the preservatives oregano essential oil (OEO) and potassium sorbate (PS), were prepared from the extrusion blow moulding technique in order to evaluate the mechanical properties, water vapour permeability (WVP) and microstructural characteristics so as to develop active films with antimicrobial activity. The samples FC (film without preservative) and F1 (1% OEO) showed higher water sorption than the samples F2 (0.5% OEO and 2.5% PS) and F3 (5% PS) essentially in relative humidity (RH) higher than the 60%. Samples water vapour permeability containing OEO and PS, showed no significant difference from FC. However, the presence of OEO in samples F1 and F3 decreased the solubility coefficient (s) in 99.5% and 93.8% respectively, compared to FC. The presence of PS in sample F2 increased the diffusion coefficient (Dw) in 4.7 times related to sample FC, so the presence of small molecule PS gave higher porosity to the film. The sample F1 showed an increase in tension at rupture (TR), elongation (E) and elastic modulus (EM) when compared to FC, while F2 and F3 samples revealed a reduction in TR and EM, and increased E. From Scanning Electronic Microscopy, it was possible to observe greater uniformity in FC and F1 compared to F2 and F3 samples. Thus, OEO presence contributes to improve the polymer mechanical properties and the increased homogenization. As well as, the presence of PS contributed to the film higher elasticity, less resistance and less homogeneity. Therefore, the presence of OEO in STP and PBAT films gives the best feature for the development of active films related to the mechanical properties, microstructural and of barriers.

Regulation of polymorphic behavior of poly(butylenes adipate) by nylon 6 fiber

In this work, the crystallization and polymorphic behavior of biodegradable poly(butylene adipate) in its composites with nylon-6 fabric were investigated. It was found that the nylon-6 fiber exhibits high nucleation ability toward the PBA as demonstrated by the increased crystallization temperature and the formation of transcrystalline layers. It was demonstrated that the nylon-6 induces the crystallization of PBA in its α-form under all of the used crystallization conditions. The effect of nylon-6 on the α-PBA crystallization was confirmed to be limited within a range of ca. 1 μm.

The tensile strength test of thermoplastic materials based on poly(butylene terephtalate)

Thermoplastic composites go toward making an increasingly greater percentage of all manufacturing polymer composites. They have a lot of beneficial properties and their manufacturing using injecting and extrusion methods is a very easy and cheap process. Their properties significantly overtake the properties of traditional materials and it is the reason for their use. Scientists are continuously carrying out research to find new applications of composites materials in new industries, not only in the automotive or aircraft industry. When thermoplastic composites are manufactured a very important factor is the appropriate accommodation of tensile strength to their predestination. Scientists need to know the behaviour of these materials during the impact of different forces, and the factors of working in normal conditions too. The main aim of this article was macroscopic and microscopic analysis of the structure of thermoplastic composites after static tensile strength test. Materials which were analysed were thermoplastic materials which have poly(butylene terephthalate) – PBT matrix reinforced with different content glass fibres – from 10% for 30%. In addition, research showed the necessary force to receive fracture and set their distinguishing characteristic down.

Toxicity of Cisplatin-Loaded Poly Butyl Cyanoacrylate Nanoparticles in a Brain Cancer Cell Line: Anionic Polymerization Results

Cancer is one of the most important issues in modern medicine and the most common cause of death after cardiovascular diseases in many countries. Brain cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer death among men and women, ranking third. Chemotherapeutic drugs that aim to prevent uncontrolled proliferation of cells in tissues of the body and induce apoptosis of tumor cells are prominent candidates for development. Since cisplatin has an apoptosis-inducing role, it is widely used as an anticancer agent. In this research, toxicity of cisplatin was studied with the C6 rat glioma cell lined using the MTT method. In addition, nanoparticles underwent SEM microscopic imaging. Particle average size, size distribution, polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential of poly butyl cyanoacrylate nanoparticles were found to be 222 nm, 0.470 ± 0.04 and 5.1 ± 0.2 mV, respectively. The results showed that nanoconjugates of cisplatin have more cytotoxic effects on C6 cells than the free drug (P<0.05), pointing to an enhanced potential of the synthesized nano-particles as a new nanocarrier for chemotherapy.

Preparation of core-shell structured particle and its application in toughening PA6/PBT blends

Combining the excellent mechanical strengths of polyamide 6 (PA6) with the low water absorption of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) was supposed to be a feasible way to prepare a high comprehensive performance material. However, the poor compatibility between PA6 and PBT resulted in low-notched impact strength of PA6/PBT blends. Poly(n-butyl acrylate)/poly(methyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) (PBMMA), a core-shell structured modifier with controlled particle sizes, was prepared by seed emulsion polymerization and confirmed by Transmission electron microscope (TEM). The PBMMA particles as toughening modifier and compatilizer were employed to toughen PA6/PBT blends. The notched impact strength of the PA6/PBT blends was significantly increased and the water absorption was reduced with the addition of PBMMA particles. With 23.0 wt% modifier loading, the notched impact strength of the blends was 25.66 kJ/m2, which was 4.04 times higher than that of pure PA6/PBT. Meanwhile, the water absorption of the blends was only 1.3%, dropping 53.6% compared with pure PA6 and reducing by 26.6% than PA6/PBT. Scanning electron microscope results showed that the PBMMA particles were dispersed in the PA6/PBT blends homogeneously, and the toughening mechanism was the cavitation of rubber particles and shear yielding of the matrix. Thermo-gravimetric analysis analysis demonstrated that the compatibility between PA6 and PBT was improved with the addition of core-shell PBMMA particles. The core-shell particles could be used as an effective modifier to achieve the high toughness and low water absorption for PA6/PBT blends. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) scaffolds: processing, structural characteristics and cellular responses

ABSTRACTThe aliphatic-aromatic copolyester, poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) combines good mechanical and thermal properties with biodegradation ability. However, until now, researches in its potential medical use remain limited. Only in a few studies blends of PBAT with routinely used biocompatible polymers had been prepared and investigated regarding tissue engineering applications. Therefore, in this study, we decided to determine processability of neat PBAT as a scaffold material for bone tissue by using different fabrication methods i.e. solvent evaporation, electrospinning, solvent casting-particulate leaching (SCPL) and melt molding-particulate leaching. The results of physicochemical characterizations and cell culture studies with MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts confirmed that neat PBAT has favorable characteristics for bone tissue engineering, however, fabrication method strongly affects the cellular responses. Regarding to the characterizations and cell cultures, PBAT scaffolds produced by SCPL and electrospinning are proposed to be used for bone tissue engineering.

Preparation of PLLA/PBAT-strengthened degradable expanded polystyrene

To enhance the flexural strength of degradable expanded polystyrene (DEPS) while maintaining degradability, during the manufacturing processes of DEPS, cerium(III) stearate (CeSt3) and poly-L-lactide (PLLA)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) are used as a nontoxic oxidizer and a co-biodegradable polymer filler, respectively. The flexural strength of DEPS is decreased by the oxidizer and increased by the biodegradable polymers. Furthermore, by favorable interfacial interaction between PLLA and PBAT, the flexural strength is more enhanced when the two biodegradable polymers are used simultaneously than used separately. The photo-, bio- and oxo-degradation behaviors of DEPS were evaluated by UV irradiation, thermal treatments, landfill, and non-landfill tests. Molecular weight of our DEPS is decreased to 90.26% after 2 weeks of UV irradiation and 74.4% after 3 months of thermal treatment test. 35.4 and 31.4% of weight of our DEPS is reduced after 3 months of landfill and non-landfill test. It is confirmed that the decomposition period of DEPS could be adjusted by controlling the amount of the oxidizer and/or the biodegradable polymers. The FT-IR study demonstrated that oligomers and nonylphenol which are known to cause the environmental hazards are not generated after the degradation of DEPS. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2016. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers