Exploring the Processing Potential of Polylactic Acid, Polyhydroxyalkanoate, and Poly(butylene Succinate-Co-Adipate) Binary and Ternary Blends
Polymers 2024
Aļisa Šabaļina, Sergejs Gaidukovs, Artūrs Auniņš, Anda Gromova, Gerda Gaidukova, Līga Orlova, Oskars Platnieks

Biodegradable and bio-based polymers, including polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polylactic acid (PLA), and poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA), stand out as sustainable alternatives to traditional petroleum-based plastics for a wide range of consumer applications. Studying binary and ternary blends is essential to exploring the synergistic combinations and efficiencies of three distinct biopolyesters. A comprehensive evaluation of melt-extruded binary and ternary polymer blends of PHA, PLA, and PBSA was conducted. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses revealed a heterogeneous morphology characteristic of immiscible blends, with a predominant spherical inclusion morphology observed in the majority of the blends. An increased PBSA concentration led to an elevation in melt viscosity and elasticity across both ternary and binary blends. An increased PHA content reduced the viscosity, along with both storage and loss moduli in the blends. Moreover, a rise in PHA concentration within the blends led to increased crystallinity, albeit with a noticeable reduction in the crystallization temperature of PHA. PLA retained amorphous structure in the blends. The resultant bio-based blends manifested enhanced rheological and calorimetric traits, divergent from their pure polymer counterparts, highlighting the potential for optimizing material properties through strategic formulation adjustments.


Keywords
biodegradable | biopolyester | calorimetric properties | rheological properties | thermal properties
DOI
10.3390/polym16162288
Hyperlink
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/16/2288

Šabaļina, A., Gaidukovs, S., Auniņš, A., Gromova, A., Gaidukova, G., Orlova, L., Platnieks, O. Exploring the Processing Potential of Polylactic Acid, Polyhydroxyalkanoate, and Poly(butylene Succinate-Co-Adipate) Binary and Ternary Blends. Polymers, 2024, Vol. 16, No. 16, Article number 2288. e-ISSN 2073-4360. Pieejams: doi:10.3390/polym16162288

Publication language
English (en)
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