Abstract. In this study, maleic anhydride-grafted poly(butylene succinate) (PBS-g-MA) was synthesized via reactive meltgrafting process using different initiator contents. The grafting efficiency was increased with the initiator content, manifested by the higher degree of grafting in PBS-g-MA. The grafting reaction was confirmed through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Then, PBS-g-MA was incorporated into organo-montmorillonite (OMMT) filled poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) nanocomposites as compatibilizer. Mechanical properties of PBS nanocomposites were enhanced after compatibilized with PBS-g-MA, due to the better dispersion of OMMT in PBS matrix and the improved filler-matrix interfacial interactions. This was verifiable through X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that the degree of crystallinity and melting temperature increased after addition of PBS-g-MA. However, the presence of PBS-g-MA did not favor the thermal stability of the nanocomposites, as reported in the thermogravimetry (TGA).
Abstract. Polymer nanocomposites have potentially enhanced properties when the molecular orientations of the polymer chains can be controlled. In this study, the mechanical and structural properties of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and 2wt% organo-montmorillonite (OMMT) filled PBS nanocomposites were modified by uniaxial cold rolling. Cold rolling was carried out to different compression ratios. The mechanical properties of rolled samples were studied in both the machine direction (MD) and the transverse direction (TD). Along the MD, distinct improvements in tensile strength and elongation at break were observed. However, the tensile strength degraded along the TD. Wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and microwave molecular orientation analysis reported on the degree of molecular orientation after rolling. Further, degree of crystallinity was reduced after cold rolling.
Biodegradable polymer blends of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) were prepared with different compositions. The mechanical properties of the blends were studied through tensile testing and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. The dependence of the elastic modulus and strength data on the blend composition was modeled on the basis of the equivalent box model. The fitting parameters indicated complete immiscibility between PBS and PHBV and a moderate adhesion level between them. The immiscibility of the parent phases was also evidenced by scanning electron observation of the prepared blends. The thermal properties of the blends were studied through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The DSC results showed an enhancement of the crystallization behavior of PBS after it was blended with PHBV, whereas the thermal stability of PBS was reduced in the blends, as shown by the TGA thermograms. V C 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42815.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.