TY - JOUR
T1 - A Comparative Study on the Compatibilization of Thermoplastic Starch/Polybutylene Succinate Blends by Chain Extender and Epoxidized Linseed Oil
AU - Gong, Ke
AU - Lu, Yinshi
AU - Portela, Alexandre
AU - Farshbaf Taghinezhad, Soheil
AU - Lawlor, David
AU - Connolly, Shane
AU - Hu, Mengli
AU - Chen, Yuanyuan
AU - Collins, Maurice N.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 by the authors.
PY - 2025/6
Y1 - 2025/6
N2 - The immiscibility of thermoplastic starch (TPS) and polybutylene succinate (PBS) complicates the thermal processing of these materials. This study provides the first comparative assessment of two compatibilizers with differing reaction mechanisms, Joncryl® ADR 4468 and epoxidized linseed oil (ELO), for the optimization of biobased TPS/PBS blends. A total of 13 batches, varying in compatibilizer and blend composition, were processed via hot melt extrusion and injection molding to produce pellets. Blends were analyzed using tensile and impact testing, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), rheology, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The findings suggest that both compatibilizers can improve the compatibility of these blends, as evidenced by higher glass transition temperatures (Tg) compared to the reference batch (100-0-N/A). Joncryl® ADR 4468 batches exhibit superior tensile strength and Young’s moduli, while ELO batches demonstrate greater elongation at break. The enhanced processability observed in Joncryl® ADR 4468 is attributed to the increased polymer chain entanglement and molecular weight, whereas ELO facilitates greater chain mobility due to its plasticizing effect. These differences arise from the distinct mechanisms of action: Joncryl® ADR 4468 promotes chain extension and crosslinking, whereas ELO mainly enhances flexibility through plasticization. Overall, this study provides a comparative assessment of these compatibilizers in TPS/PBS blends, laying the groundwork for future investigations into optimizing compatibilizer concentration and blend composition.
AB - The immiscibility of thermoplastic starch (TPS) and polybutylene succinate (PBS) complicates the thermal processing of these materials. This study provides the first comparative assessment of two compatibilizers with differing reaction mechanisms, Joncryl® ADR 4468 and epoxidized linseed oil (ELO), for the optimization of biobased TPS/PBS blends. A total of 13 batches, varying in compatibilizer and blend composition, were processed via hot melt extrusion and injection molding to produce pellets. Blends were analyzed using tensile and impact testing, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), rheology, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The findings suggest that both compatibilizers can improve the compatibility of these blends, as evidenced by higher glass transition temperatures (Tg) compared to the reference batch (100-0-N/A). Joncryl® ADR 4468 batches exhibit superior tensile strength and Young’s moduli, while ELO batches demonstrate greater elongation at break. The enhanced processability observed in Joncryl® ADR 4468 is attributed to the increased polymer chain entanglement and molecular weight, whereas ELO facilitates greater chain mobility due to its plasticizing effect. These differences arise from the distinct mechanisms of action: Joncryl® ADR 4468 promotes chain extension and crosslinking, whereas ELO mainly enhances flexibility through plasticization. Overall, this study provides a comparative assessment of these compatibilizers in TPS/PBS blends, laying the groundwork for future investigations into optimizing compatibilizer concentration and blend composition.
KW - chain extension
KW - chain mobility
KW - epoxidized linseed oil
KW - Joncryl ADR
KW - polybutylene succinate (PBS)
KW - thermoplastic starch (TPS)
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105009308943
U2 - 10.3390/macromol5020024
DO - 10.3390/macromol5020024
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105009308943
SN - 2673-6209
VL - 5
JO - Macromol
JF - Macromol
IS - 2
M1 - 24
ER -