Poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) is a semicrystalline biodegradable polyester with high gas barrier properties. However, due to its poor processability and low ductility, PGA could hardly find applications in the packaging field. Here, a strategy was adopted for in situ generation of high-aspect-ratio flexible microfibrils with strong interface affinity for the PGA matrix. Because poly(butylene adipate- co -terephthalate) (PBAT) possesses impressive ductility, it was selected as the “fibrillar toughening phase” to enhance the ductility of PGA. Moreover, a chain extender was used to enhance the interfacial adhesion between the two polymers. The extrusion blown film technique was then used to develop fully biodegradable PGA/PBAT films with a superior combination of excellent barrier performance and robust mechanical properties. The PBAT phase can in situ form microfibrils under the influence of extensional flow. Simultaneously, the synergetic function of the extensional flow field could effectively promote the motion of the PGA molecular chain to develop an oriented crystalline microstructure. Because of the aligned oriented lamellar crystal of PGA and oriented PBAT fibril structures serving as robust “barrier walls” 60PGA/ADR blown films demonstrated dramatically improved resistance to oxygen and water vapor, with 59 and 44 times lower oxygen permeability and water vapor permeability, respectively, when compared to the neat PBAT blown film. As a result, PGA/PBAT blown films offer a variety of benefits, including superior ductility, toughness, and a strong gas barrier property. The potential of these films to degrade makes them a viable contender for replacing classical nondegradable packing films.

The poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)/thermoplastic starch (TPS) film stands out owing to its acceptable price, low impact on the environment, and excellent mechanical properties. The main objective of this study was to improve the antioxidant properties of the PBAT/TPS film by incorporation of quercetin (Q) through the extrusion blow process. Another specific objective was to incorporate the organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) to prolong the release of Q and improve the poor barrier properties of the PBAT/TPS/Q film. The films were analyzed in terms of their morphology, mechanical properties, gas and water barrier properties, and antioxidant and anti-UV properties. Optimization of the OMMT content resulted in a fiber-like, co-continuous morphology of the PBAT/TPS/ Q film. The incorporation of quercetin enhanced the antioxidant and anti-UV properties of the PBAT/TPS film, while OMMT improved the mechanical properties, ultraviolet barriers, and gas and water barrier properties. The results show that the films incorporating Q and OMMT provided the oxygen and water barrier by up to 94 and 54%, respectively. Also, the amount of polymer required for 50% 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) inhibition is as low as 0.03 g, and the UV transmission rate was reduced by about 50%. Moreover, PBAT/TPS/Q/OMMT films successfully delayed the decay of the banana and blueberry due to their excellent antioxidant properties and suitable water vapor permeability.

To overcome the migration of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) used as a poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) plasticizer, ESO‐branched cardanol (CD) ethers (ESO‐CDn) are designed and synthesized in this work. The incorporation of the benzene ring and the C15 straight chain of CD provided excellent plasticizing efficiency, and the increase in the molecular weight by branching CD with ESO enhanced the migration resistance of the plasticizer. In this work, two different methods are adopted to prepare PVC/ESO/CD and PVC/ESO‐CDn, namely the one‐step method (dynamic vulcanization of ESO, CD, and PVC) and the two‐step method (synthesis of ESO‐CD and then mixing it with PVC). The first method is convenient, while it is also uncontrollable, leading to an incomplete reaction between ESO and CD. The second method offers a controllable reaction between ESO and CD. The chemical structure of ESO‐CDn is fully characterized. Furthermore, the thermal, mechanical, rheology, and migration resistance properties of PVC/ESO/CD and PVC/ESO‐CDn are compared. The relationship between the molecular structure and plasticizer performance is investigated, and the plasticization mechanism is proposed. The tensile and thermal properties indicate that PVC/35ESO‐CD10 offered a superior anti‐thermal aging performance due to the excellent plasticizing and migration resistance effects of ESO‐CD10.

Brittleness of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer obtained from renewable and natural sources, hinders its widespread applications. This study provides a convenient and economical way to enhance the toughness of PLA by using hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) liq-

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