Hydrophilic and Biodegradable PBAT Copolyesters Prepared from Chemically Recycled Resources

• DOI: 10.1021/acsapm.4c00403
• Publication Date: 2024-04-22T07:44:15Z
• Authors: Jizhe Liu; Zhenlin Jiang; Yueting Zhou; Baoxiu Wang; Jiapeng Chen; Jun Li; Ling Huang; Chaosheng Wang

Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) is the most extensively researched and developed biodegradable material. Its application in production of garments, packaging, films limited due to lack polar groups on its surface. To address issue insufficient hydrophilicity PBAT, this paper presents modified PBAT that incorporates a hydrophilic chain segment (polyethylene glycol, PEG) during polycondensation process. Regenerated bis(hydroxybutyl)terephthalate (BHBT), precursor material for synthesis was produced through chemical alcoholysis poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT). Hydrophilic then prepared by condensation polymerization with recycled BHBT, BHAT (dihydroxybutyl adipate), PEG. It has been demonstrated successful doping PEG into main improves hydrophilicity. This leads decrease elongation at break tensile strength. Additionally, contact angle decreases 46.71°, while surface free energy (γs) increases 42.99 mJ/m2. copolyesters exhibit an increase gas permeability, highest permeability coefficient water vapor (OSFWV = 1.358). In visible light range 400–800 nm, higher transmittance than materials, resulting greater transparency. R-PBAT loss modulus storage copolyester 0.1–100 rad/s. The inclusion segments enhances melt fluidity copolyester, facilitating processing. While over course 30 days, addition had effect degradation rate which remained 34.44%.