Biodegradable Poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) composites reinforced with bio‐based nanochitin: Preparation, enhanced mechanical and thermal properties

Abstract

The accumulation of nonbiodegradable petrochemical-based polymers in the environment motivates the development and use of low-cost, eco-friendly, and biodegradable polymers. A series of biodegradable poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) composites reinforced by sustainably sourced nanochitin were successfully prepared using melt blending and compression molding methods. Structural, thermal, and mechanical characterizations of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)/nanochitin composites were performed. SEM revealed that the nanochitin was uniformly dispersed throughout the PBAT matrix at low contents (<2 wt %), while DSC analyses revealed a corresponding increase in the crystallinity (32.6% enhancement) of the PBAT matrix. The tensile strength and elongation at break of the PBAT/nanochitin composite containing 0.5 wt % nanochitin were higher by 82.5 and 64.2%, respectively, compared with pristine PBAT. The Chitin-0.5 composite also showed improved thermal stability compared with PBAT (the char yield improved by 8%) due to the uniform dispersion of nanochitin in the PBAT matrix. The enhanced performance of the PBAT/nanochitin composites, prepared without an added compatibilizer, informs the development of improved biodegradable PBATbased polymers.

Extraction of Nanochitin from Marine Resources and Fabrication of Polymer Nanocomposites: Recent Advances

“…The thermal properties of composites comprising of nanochitin have been analyzed by numerous researchers with the aid of thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) [80][81][82] usually under a nitrogen atmosphere [80,[83][84][85][86].…”

“…The thermal properties of biodegradable poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) composites reinforced with bio-based nanochitin were investigated by Meng et al using TGA and DSC under a nitrogen atmosphere [80]. TGA curves and derivative thermal and PBAT/nanochitin composites are shown in Figure 14a, DSC under a nitrogen atmosphere [80]. TGA curves and derivative thermal and PBAT/nanochitin composites are shown in Figure 14a,b, respectively.…”

“…The data strongly recommend that integration of nanochitin at 0.5 wt % had a varied nucleation result, helping the establishment of crystallites in the PBAT matrix during cooling from the melt. The researchers concluded that the thermal properties of the composites were largely reliant on the concentration (0.5 wt % being optimal) and dispersion of nanochitin [80]. Coltelli et al, during their investigation on the thermal properties of poly (lactic acid) (PLA)-based composites comprising chitin nanofibrils using DSC under a nitrogen atmosphere, resolved that the concurrent existence of CNFs and triethyl citrate (TEC) in the studies composition range did not incite substantial deviations, apart from the apparent decline of the glass transition temperature owing to the plasticizing effect of TEC [81].…”

“… DSC cooling curves ( A ) and heating curves ( B ) for pristine PBAT and the different PBAT/chitin composites: ( a ) PBAT, ( b ) chitin-0.5, ( c ) chitin-1, ( d ) chitin-2, ( e ) chitin-4 and ( f ) chitin-8 [ 80 ]. …”

“…TGA (A) and DTG (B) of nanochitin sample and PBAT/chitin composites: (a) PBAT, (b) chitin, (c) chitin-0.5, (d) chitin-1, (e) chitin-2, (f) chitin-4 and (g) chitin-8[80].…”