Incorporation of Large-Scale Prepared Poly(ethylene oxalate) into Biodegradable Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) Blown Films with Enhanced Mechanical and Barrier Performance

With the breakthrough of large-scale production of poly(ethyleneoxalate) (PEOx) engineering technology, the promising sustainablepolyoxalate material with high mechanical strength and marine degradabilityprocesses the feasibility of commercialization. By blending PEOx producedin 150 L pilot polymerization systems with commercial poly(butyleneadipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) polyester, followedby a film-blowing process, the compatibility, mechanical properties,barrier properties, particularly the marine degradability, were systematicallystudied. Results revealed that adding the appropriate amount of PEOxas rigid particles could significantly enhance the comprehensive performanceof the PBAT/PEOx blend films. More appealingly, the preferential hydrolysisof the PEOx component caused the surface of the blend film to breakmore easily in the marine environments, creating conditions for furtherdegradation of the blend matrix. Additionally, the subsequent bag-makingand food preservation process also proved that the film material isa potential candidate for broader commercial applications. Accordingly,for commercial applications of plastics, the PBAT/PEOx blend filmis a valuable marine-degradable material in terms of environmentaland economic sustainability. Themarine-degradable PBAT/PEOx blend film with enhancedmechanical and barrier properties is a kind of high-performance environmentallyfriendly biodegradable material from a sustainable viewpoint.