Chemical-free Reactive Melt Processing of Biosourced Poly(butylene-succinate-adipate) for Improved Mechanical Properties and Recyclability
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2024

Biosourced and biodegradable polyesters like poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) (PBSA) are gaining traction as promising alternatives to oil-based thermoplastics for single-use applications. However, the mechanical and rheological properties of PBSA are affected by its thermomechanical sensitivity during its melt processing, also hindering PBSA mechanical recycling. Traditional reactive melt processing (RP) methods use chemical additives to counteract these drawbacks, compromising sustainability. This study proposes a green reactive method during melt compounding for PBSA based on a comprehensive understanding of its thermomechanical degradative behavior. Under the hypothesis that controlled degradative paths during melt processing can promote branching/recombination reactions without the addition of chemical additives, we aim to enhance PBSA rheological and mechanical performance. An in-depth investigation of the in-line rheological behavior of PBSA was conducted using an internal batch mixer, exploring parameters such as temperature, screw rotation speed, and residence time. Their influence on PBSA chain scissions, branching/recombination, and cross-linking reactions were evaluated to identify optimal conditions for effective RP. Results demonstrate that specific processing conditions, for example, twelve minutes processing time, 200 °C temperature, and 60 rpm screw rotation speed, promote the formation of the long chain branched structure in PBSA. These structural changes resulted in a notable enhancement of the reacted PBSA rheological and mechanical properties, exhibiting a 23% increase in elastic modulus, a 50% increase in yield strength, and an 80% increase in tensile strength. The RP strategy also improved PBSA mechanical recycling, thus making it a potential replacement for low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Ultimately, this study showcases how finely controlling the thermomechanical degradation during reactive melt processing can improve the material’s properties, enabling reliable mechanical recycling, which can serve as a green approach for other biodegradable polymers.

NMR

PBSA

mechanical properties

green reactive processing

chemical modification

recycling

biodegradable polymer

Biosourced polymer

Författare

Michele Gammino

Universita degli Studi di Palermo

Claudio Gioia

Universita degli Studi di Trento

Andrea Maio

Universita degli Studi di Palermo

Roberto Scaffaro

Universita degli Studi di Palermo

Giada Lo Re

Chalmers, Industri- och materialvetenskap, Konstruktionsmaterial

Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC)

ACS Applied Polymer Materials

26376105 (eISSN)

Vol. 6 10 5866-5877

Ämneskategorier

Polymerteknologi

DOI

10.1021/acsapm.4c00514

PubMed

38807952

Mer information

Senast uppdaterat

2024-06-08