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Design and Preparation of Inherently Photostable Poly(Butylene Adipate-Co-Terephthalate) by Chemically Bonding UV-Stabilizing Moieties in Molecular Chains
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This study developed poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) with UV-stabilizing moieties chemically bonded directly into its molecular chains, overcoming the leaching limitations of conventional blended UV absorbers. The UV-stable PBAT retained 67% tensile strength and 49% elongation after accelerated aging with no detectable UV absorber leaching, showing strong potential for outdoor applications such as agricultural mulch films.
Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) is a promising biodegradable polymer with balanced mechanical properties and excellent degradability, making it an ideal material to reduce plastic pollution. However, its susceptibility to ultraviolet (UV) degradation, due to photosensitive aromatic rings and carbonyl groups in its structure, limits its use in outdoor settings like mulch films. Conventional methods of incorporating small-molecule UV stabilizers face challenges such as poor compatibility, uneven dispersion, and migration under environmental conditions, reducing their effectiveness over time. This study developed a novel strategy to enhance PBAT's UV resistance by chemically bonding UV-stabilizing moieties directly into its molecular chains to address these limitations. A novel UV absorber containing a polymerizable group was synthesized and copolymerized with PBAT's main chain, creating an intrinsically UV-stable PBAT. The UV-stable PBAT was evaluated for UV resistance, mechanical performance, and durability through accelerated aging and solvent extraction tests. The results demonstrated that UV-stable PBAT exhibited exceptional light stabilization effects, with no detectable UV absorber leaching in ethanol even after 114 h, whereas PBAT blends lost nearly 90% of UV-0 within 24 h. Furthermore, UV-stable PBAT maintained 67.1% tensile strength and 48.8% elongation at break after aging, which exhibited the best mechanical retention performance. Even when subjected to solvent extraction, the 42.6% tensile strength retention outperformed the PBAT blends. This innovative chemical modification overcomes the limitations of additive-based stabilization, offering improved durability, compatibility, and performance in outdoor applications. Our research provides key insights into the fundamental properties of PBAT films for UV resistance, demonstrating their potential for use in demanding fields such as agricultural films.
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UV-C and UV-C/H₂O-Induced Abiotic Degradation of Films of Commercial PBAT/TPS Blends
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Researchers investigated how UV-C irradiation and combined UV-C/water exposure degrade commercial PBAT/TPS bioplastic films, finding that UV-C caused chain scission and molar mass reduction while water immersion enhanced physical erosion by leaching out the starch fraction and creating a porous structure.
Solid‐phase synthesis of grafted carbon black for superior aging resistance in biodegradable poly(butylene adipate‐co‐butylene terephthalate) composite films
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This study developed a solvent-free solid-phase synthesis method to graft UV absorber UV531 onto carbon black (CB), creating CB-UV531 for incorporation into biodegradable PBAT films. The resulting PBAT/CB-UV531 film showed significantly improved thermal stability, UV resistance, and reduced UV531 migration compared to conventional additives, extending the functional lifespan of biodegradable plastic films.
Poly (Butylene Adipate‐Co‐Terephthalate) (PBAT) – Based Biocomposites: A Comprehensive Review
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PBAT biocomposites review: blending improves mechanical/barrier properties while maintaining biodegradability for packaging.
Recent advances in poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT): structure, modification strategies, degradation, and sustainable applications
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This review paper rounds up what scientists currently know about PBAT, a biodegradable plastic being used in food packaging, farm films, and even medical devices as an alternative to traditional plastics that never break down. While PBAT does degrade in soil and water more effectively than conventional plastic, the research notes a catch worth watching: it can still shed microplastics during the breakdown process, meaning "biodegradable" doesn't automatically mean risk-free for ecosystems or human exposure. More research is needed to make sure these materials fully break down safely before they become a bigger part of everyday products.
Performance and UV‐Induced Microplastics Formation in a PBS/PBAT Blend With and Without Joncryl Reactive Compatibilization
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Even "biodegradable" plastics can shed microplastics when exposed to sun and weather, according to a new study on common plant-based plastic blends used in packaging. Researchers found that adding a special bonding ingredient made the material stronger and reduced (but didn't eliminate) microplastic fragments after UV exposure, about 16% of the material broke into tiny pieces versus 22% without it. This matters because it shows that switching to biodegradable plastics doesn't automatically solve the microplastics problem, and manufacturing choices can meaningfully affect how much plastic dust ends up in our environment and potentially our bod
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