Poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) films reinforced with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanoparticles: a morphological, mechanical, and thermal study

Efforts to develop and implement an increasing number of biodegradable polymers continue to grow worldwide; nevertheless, substantial obstacles must undoubtedly be surmounted in order to produce biodegradable polymers that exhibit exceptional properties and high performance. With the objective of enhancing the compatibility between the two intrinsically immiscible polymers, polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) and poly(butylene adipate) (PLA), we employed epoxidized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (epoxy-POSS) nanoparticles. A solution-casting method was employed to fabricate nanocomposites comprising a nanoparticle and two biocompatible polymers. This process proved to be highly effective. The distinctive morphology, high strength, toughness, and thermal stability of these nanocomposites were demonstrated by a variety of experiments at 1 wt% nanoparticle. The opposite effect was observed when nanoparticles were added exceeding 1 wt%; consequently, the degree of compatibility between the polymer phases diminished. The impact strength and elongation-at-break of the composite samples were significantly altered at 1% nanoparticle application, going from 57.04 MPa and 520% to about 400% and 62.4 MPa, respectively, as compared to pristine PLA. Microscopic observations showed that the dispersion of nanoparticles in all three phases was dispersed, continuous, and the interface was uniform, and the presence of nanoparticles prevented the melt crystallization of PLA.