The development of
biodegradable packaging films can resolve environmental
issues caused by plastic waste, but it still remains a great challenge
to develop economically feasible polymers that simultaneously balance
robust mechanical properties, biodegradability, and transparency.
In this work, we describe the bench-scale synthesis (∼1.5 kg)
and blown film characterization of new biodegradable aliphatic–aromatic
copolymers, poly(1,4-butylene-1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene carbonate–terephthalate)s
(PBCCTs) with different molar ratios of two diol monomers, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol
(CHDM) and 1,4-butandiol (BD), from 0:1 to 5:5 (CHDM/BD) to optimize
the mechanical, optical, and thermal properties and biodegradability.
The incorporation of CHDM units significantly impacted the thermal
properties of the blown films from these copolymers; PBCCT films with
50 mol % CHDM content had a more amorphous and glassy character compared
with the films with 0 mol % CHDM. And, PBCCT films with 30–50%
CHDM content exhibited superior mechanical properties (tear strength
= 11.5 kgf/mm and tensile strength = 369 kgf/cm2) and comparable
transparency (haze = 16%) to those of nondegradable polyethylenes
(PEs), the most commonly employed materials for packaging film applications.
Taken together, the bench-scale synthesis of biodegradable polymers
with suitable thermomechanical, optical, and permeability properties
presented here showcases the potential of these materials as sustainable
packaging materials.
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