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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #153894
Title: INTERFACIAL ADHESION IN MODEL BIOBLENDS

Author
item BIRESAW, GIRMA
item CARRIERE, CRAIG
item WILLETT, JULIOUS

Submitted to: Journal of Applied Polymer Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/6/2003
Publication Date: 9/15/2004
Citation: Biresaw, G., Carriere, C.J., Willett, J.L. 2004. Interfacial adhesion in model bioblends. Journal of Applied Polymer Science. 94(1):65-73.

Interpretive Summary: Prices of farm products are highly dependent on the balance between supply and demand. For years, oversupply has led to price declines, which have negatively affected the income of farmers. One way of increasing demand is by developing new uses. Of particular interest are plastics, currently obtained almost exclusively from petroleum-based raw materials, and used in a variety of consumer and industrial products. Successful displacement of even a fraction of these petroleum-based products will boost the demand for farm products and the income of farmers. However, development of new uses requires that the ag-based raw materials be blended with biodegradable synthetic polymers. Such blending allows them to meet performance requirements without sacrificing their biodegradability and other useful properties. In this work, the interfacial adhesion of blends containing biodegradable polyesters is investigated. The results showed that the observed interfacial adhesions were consistent with previously measured interfacial tension of similar blends. The ability to predict the adhesion and mechanical properties of blends from interfacial properties will greatly accelerate the development of new products from ag-based raw materials.

Technical Abstract: Model bioblends were investigated for interfacial adhesion using asymmetric double cantilever beam (ADCB) fracture method. The model bioblends comprised two synthetic polymer components, one of which was the non-biodegradable polymer polystyrene (PS). The second component was a synthetic biodegradable polyester, which was either polycaprolactone (PCL) or Eastar Bio Copolyester ® (EBU). The critical strain energy release rate (GIc) data from the ADCB fracture experiments on the model bioblends decreased in the order: PCL/PS > EBU/PS. This was opposite to the reported order in the interfacial tension of these bioblends. It is concluded that the relative interfacial adhesion of the model bioblends was due to better compatibility in PCL/PS blends over that in EBU/PS blends.