Structure and properties of new biodegradable elastomers composed of poly(ethylene succinate)‐based poly(ether ester)s and poly(lactic acid)

Abstract

The green sustainability of the plastic industry always gives impetus to develop the biobased and biodegradable polymers for substituting chemical products. In this study, aliphatic poly(ethylene succinate)‐based poly(ether ester)s (PES‐based PEE) were firstly explored via one pot/two‐component industrial melt polycondensation of succinic acid (SA) and ethylene glycol (EG) in the catalytic combination of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTP) and methylsulfonic acid (MSA). Their thermal properties and mechanical behavior were analyzed in detail. Based on complementary properties of PES‐based PEEs and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) in the aspect of the flexibility and ductility, the copolymerization of poly(ethylene succinate)‐poly(diethylene glycol succinate) (PES‐PDES) with PLA with low molecular weight was further systematically elaborated and characterized. The results from differential scanning calorimeter showed all the copolymers with different LA contents were amorphous without the melting temperatures. Only one α relaxation revealed by DMA indicated PES‐PDES and PLA segments were random distribution and compatible. The monotonical decrease in glass transition temperatures (Tgs) hinted the mobility enhancement of the copolymers with increasing PES‐PDES contents. All the copolymers PES‐PDES‐PLAs exhibited relatively high thermal degradation temperature with T5% above 280°C. The mechanical properties and degradable behavior of the copolymers were significantly ameliorated by changing the composition fractions of PES‐PDES and PLA in the architecture.

Towards a Sustainable Circular Economy: Algae‐Based Bioplastics and the Role of Internet‐of‐Things and Machine Learning

“…However, the decrease in tensile strength observed with increased algal concentration in the blend can be attributed to the inherent structural differences between PLA and microalgae [93,94]. The semi-crystalline, structured nature of PLA, which affords it high tensile strength, is disrupted by the inclusion of the less-structured microalgae biomass, resulting in a reduction in tensile strength [95,96].…”

Thermal Degradation Mechanism and Decomposition Kinetic Studies of Poly(Ethylene Succinate)/Hemp Fiber Composites

“…One of the most promising projects in this context is the development of bioplastics, which are derived from renewable resources. Upon degradation, these polymers reduce their molecular weight while increasing their crystallinity [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. The addition of natural fillers and additives can enhance the physical and mechanical properties of these materials [8].…”

“…The most commonly studied PnASs are poly(ethylene succinate) (PESu), poly(propylene succinate) (PPSu), and poly(butylene succinate) (PBSu), with PESu being one of the most important members due to its satisfactory mechanical properties and good thermal stability [10][11][12]. PESu can be synthesized by either ringopening polymerization of succinic anhydride or by polycondensation of succinic acid and ethylene glycol, both of which can be derived from natural resources [2,13]. Compared to non-biodegradable polymers, PESu presents controllable biodegradation rates and high processability, making it a promising alternative to traditional plastics Furthermore, its mechanical properties, such as elongation at break and tensile strength, are comparable to those of commonly used polymers like low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP) [14,15].…”

“…These new composite materials are intended to replace wood-plastic composites, often used in exterior applications. As aforementioned, PESu exhibits good thermal properties, making it suitable for a wide range of applications in the packaging, textile, and biomedical industries [2,35], as other structurally similar biodegradable polymers [36]. PESu has a melting point around 103-106 • C and can be easily processed through various molding and extrusion techniques [14].…”