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Sustainable Design of Poly(trimethylene succinate- co -terephthalate) Copolyesters: Melt Memory Effects, Accelerated Crystallization, and Enhanced Mechanical Properties

ACS Applied Polymer Materials 2025 Score: 38 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Zhenguang Li, Jielin Xu, Jielin Xu, Yaning Wang, Qian Chen, Ruimin Xie, Jinlong Xu, Jing Wu, Hua Ping Wang

Summary

Researchers synthesised a series of biobased biodegradable poly(trimethylene succinate-co-terephthalate) (PTST) copolyesters using 1,3-propanediol as an eco-friendly monomer alternative to conventional 1,4-butanediol, investigating their nonisothermal crystallisation kinetics, self-nucleation behaviour, and mechanical properties via Jeziorny, Ozawa, and Mo model analysis. They identified a melt memory self-nucleation effect enabling accelerated crystallisation and enhanced mechanical performance as a sustainable alternative to fossil-based polymers that contribute to microplastic pollution.

The depletion of fossil resources and escalating microplastic pollution necessitate sustainable polymer alternatives. This study develops biobased biodegradable polyesters using 1,3-propanediol (PDO) as an ecofriendly substitute for industrialized 1,4-butanediol (BDO)-based polyesters. A series of poly(trimethylene succinate-co-terephthalate) (PTST) copolyesters with varied succinic acid contents were synthesized to investigate their nonisothermal crystallization kinetics, self-nucleation behavior, and mechanical properties. Crystallization kinetics analyzed via the Jeziorny, Ozawa, and Mo models revealed composition-dependent crystallization rates, growth morphology, and activation energies. Differential scanning calorimetry identified a melt memory effect in PTST, with a self-nucleation temperature interval (147–158 °C) narrower than PBAT’s (141–162 °C), suggesting chain flexibility governs this phenomenon. Postprocessing within this interval enhanced recrystallization, improving mechanical properties without costly and time-consuming annealing. Rotational rheology further confirmed accelerated crystallization during melt cooling within the self-nucleation interval. This work provides a cost-effective strategy to optimize the PTST performance while advancing sustainable material design.

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