Improvement of Barrier Properties of Biodegradable Polybutylene Succinate/Graphene Nanoplatelets Nanocomposites Prepared by Melt Process

Abstract

Polybutylene Succinate (PBS)/Graphene nanoplatelets (GnP) nanocomposites over a range of GnP from 0 to 1.35 wt.%. were prepared by a melt process. A mixture of individual graphene nanosheets and aggregates was obtained by the addition of GnP in the PBS matrix. The presence of these fillers did not significantly modify the morphology, crystalline microstructure of the matrix or its thermal stability. However, a slight reinforcement effect of PBS was reported in the presence of GnP. The water sorption isotherm modelling with Guggenheim, Andersen and De Boer (GAB) equation and Zimm-Lundberg theory allowed a phenomenological analysis at the molecular scale. The presence of GnP did not modify the water sorption capacity of the PBS matrix. From a kinetic point of view, a decrease of the diffusion coefficient with the increasing GnP content was obtained and was attributed to a tortuosity effect. The influence of water activity was discussed over a range of 0.5 to 1 and 0 to 0.9 for water and dioxygen permeability. Improvement of the barrier properties by 38% and 35% for water and dioxygen permeability respectively were obtained.

Durability of Biodegradable Polymer Nanocomposites

“…Some of the BP (e.g., PLA, PVA, starch, cellulose acetate) are well known to be able to absorb a considerable amount of water due to their amorphous nature that allows water molecules to penetrate more easily than into semi-crystalline polymers (e.g., PBS, PCL, etc.) [ 11 , 13 , 96 , 99 ]. To minimize the water absorption content and subsequent degradation of physical and mechanical properties of BP different nanofillers, such as ZnO [ 11 ] and CNC [ 96 ] could be added.…”

“…Bharadwaj [ 133 ] has modelled permeability in polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites and modified Nielsen’s model by taking into account orientational effects. The Bharadwaj model is given by the following relation [ 99 , 133 ]: where S is the orientation of fillers in the nanocomposites. S take the values of −0.5, 0 and 1 for fillers oriented perpendicularly, randomly and parallel to the membrane surface.…”

“…Cosquer et al have studied the influence of graphene nanoplatelets (GnP) on water absorption kinetics of biodegradable PBS [ 99 ]. GnP, being hydrophobic nanofillers of a high aspect ratio, act as efficient impermeable barriers.…”

“… Diffusion coefficient as a function of water activity for neat PBS and PBS/GnP nanocomposites [ 99 ]. …”

Hydrothermal Ageing Effect on Reinforcement Efficiency of Nanofibrillated Cellulose/Biobased Poly(butylene succinate) Composites

“…Hydrothermal ageing of highly loaded cellulose-based biopolymer systems is studied in [8,33] demonstrating their particularly high susceptibility to environmental impact. Property degradation is normally related to water absorption capacity and barrier properties of bioplastics [34,35], thus making NFC less competitive in terms of environmental stability compared to hydrophobic materials, e.g., carbon, nanofillers. Development of sustainable biocomposites with tailored durability and biodegradability performance is a major task for the growing circular economy.…”