Film Blowing of Biobased Biodegradable Polyesters: Poly(Pentylene Adipate-co-Terephthalate) and Poly (DodecyleneFuranoate)

Abstract

Poly(pentylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PPeAT), poly (dodecylene furanoate) (PDDF), polybutylene adipate terephthalate(PBAT), and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) films were prepared using film blowing. Machine direction (MD) andtransverse direction (TD) properties of the blown films (BFs) are compared to the properties of compression molded sheets (CMSs).For all polymers, Young’s modulus, stress at break elongation at break and storage modulus are higher for the CMSs vs. BFs. PPeATfilms have a higher modulus than PBAT films demonstrating its superior mechanical properties. X-ray scattering shows that CMSshave higher percent crystallinity, longer d-spacing, and larger crystal size compared with BFs. For BFs, SAXS measurements havemore intensity in the MD vs. the TD while the d-spacing is slightly higher for the MD; however, WAXS results indicate that films inthe TD have higher percent crystallinity than in the MD. CMSs exhibit lower oxygen permeability, carbon dioxide permeability, andnormalized water vapor transmission rates compared with BFs consistent with the higher crystallinity. Biobased, biodegradablePPeAT and PDDF show lower oxygen and carbon dioxide permeabilities compared with fossil fuel-based PBAT and LLDPE andlower water vapor transmission rates than PBAT. PPeAT and PDDF BFs show promising results and eventually might be used asa drop-in replacement for LLDPE in flexible film packaging.