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Fabrication and Characterization of Completely Biodegradable Copolyester–Chitosan Blends: I. Spectroscopic and Thermal Characterization
Author(s) -
Pokhrel Shanta,
Lach Ralf,
Le Hai Hong,
Wutzler André,
Grellmann Wolfgang,
Radusch HansJoachim,
Dhakal Rabindra P.,
Esposito Antonella,
Henning Sven,
Yadav Paras N.,
Saiter Jean M.,
Heinrich Gert,
Adhikari Rameshwar
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.201650043
Subject(s) - differential scanning calorimetry , materials science , thermogravimetric analysis , chitosan , glass transition , chemical engineering , thermal stability , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , biopolymer , copolyester , polymer chemistry , polymer , dynamic mechanical analysis , biodegradable polymer , polymer blend , composite material , polyester , copolymer , physics , engineering , thermodynamics
Summary Chitosan was prepared from shells of locally available fresh water prawns with variation of sodium hydroxide concentration and reaction time. The biopolymer was melt‐mixed with a commercially available biodegradable polymer, the poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT). The chitosan and blend films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The glass transition temperature (Tg) and melting point of the materials remained unchanged implying complete incompatibility of the blend components. Kinetic study showed that activation energy of the degradation process, i.e., thermal stability of the blends, decreased with increasing chitosan content in the blends. As the thermal properties of all the samples were found to be identical, it can be concluded that there was no effect of the added chitosan on the crystallization and melting behavior of the PBAT. These findings support the notion of the absence of interactions among the blend components. The rate of biodegradation was found to be higher in blends compared to pure PBAT polymer.