Effect of 1,4-Bis(Tert-Butyl Peroxy Isopropyl) Benzene on the Rheological, Mechanical, Thermal and Barrier Properties of Poly(Butylene Succinate-Co-Terephthalate)/Poly(Lactic Acid) Blends and Blown Films

Abstract

In this article, 1,4-bis(tert-butyl peroxy isopropyl) benzene (BIPB) was used as a reactive compatibilizer to enhance the compatibility between poly(butylene succinate-co-terephthalate) (PBST) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) to prepare a novel environmentally friendly PBST/PLA-based blown film. Rheological analysis and gel permeation chromatography showed that BIPB reacted with PBST/PLA during melt-blending extrusion. The PBST/PLA blend gradually changed from the typical sea-island phase structure without BIPB towards a homogeneous phase structure with the increase in BIPB concentration, indicating that the compatibility between PBST and PLA improved significantly upon addition of BIPB. Moreover, compared to PBST/PLA blown film, the Young's modulus, tensile strength, breaking strain, tear strength, and falling dart impact strength of PBST/PLA/BIPB blown film showed great improvement. The PBST/PLA/BIPB blown film could control microenvironmental humidity in the packaging and inhibited mushroom molding and rotting for up to 7 days. In vitro cell experiments showed that the PBST/PLA/BIPB blown film was suitable for mouse fibroblast (L929) cell growth. Thus, the PBST/PLA/BIPB blown film can be used in fields such as biomedical materials, food packaging, and hygienic products.

Keywords: Poly(butylene succinate-co-terephthalate) (PBST)Poly(lactic acid) (PLA)1, 4-Bis(tert-butyl peroxy isopropyl) benzene (BIPB)