Poly Butylene Adipate-Co-Terephthalate Characteristics:

Poly butylene adipate-co-terephthalate is a semi-crystalline polymer, usually with a crystallization temperature around 110°C and a melting point around 130°C. The density of PBAT is between 1.18g/ml and 1.3g/ml. The crystallinity of PBAT is about 30% and the Shore hardness is above 85. PBAT is a copolymer of aliphatic and aromatic, combining the excellent degradation properties of aliphatic polyesters and the good mechanical properties of aromatic polyesters. The processing performance of PBAT is very similar to that of LDPE and can be blown with LDPE processing equipment.

PBAT Instruction:

PBAT is a well-known aliphatic-aromatic biodegradable random copolyester structurally composed of the chemical units butylene adipate. PBAT can be synthesized by polycondensation reactions in the melt phase. However, the synthesis process is very complex as PBAT requires high esterification temperatures.

In addition, the synthesis process is associated with various side reactions such as depolymerization and hydrolytic degradation, color of the polymer, and formation of tetrahydrofuran. This short literature review deals with the development of various methods for the synthesis of poly(butenedioic acid-terephthalic acid) on a commercial scale. Different grades of synthesis using chain extenders, branching agents, chemical functionalization and in situ incorporation of nanocomposites are also investigated.

PBAT Properties:

The properties of PBAT can be adjusted by changing the ratio of its monomer units and by combining PBAT with other biodegradable polymers. They are typically similar to high-density or low-density polyethylene and can therefore be used for similar applications in food packaging and agricultural films. In addition, PBAT is fully biodegradable (compostable) and can be processed on conventional blown film equipment used for polyethylene. PBAT has also been investigated as a toughening agent for PLA.