Biodegradable High-Molecular-Weight Poly (pentylene adipate-coterephthalate): Synthesis, Thermo-Mechanical Properties, Microstructures, and Biodegradation
Category
Topical Literature Review
Department
Material Science
Student Status
Graduate
Research Advisor
Dr. Ram Gupta
Document Type
Event
Location
Student Center Ballroom
Start Date
10-4-2025 2:00 PM
End Date
10-4-2025 4:00 PM
Description
Poly (pentylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PPAT) is a promising biobased and biodegradable polymer that can replace polyethylene in flexible packaging films where biodegradability is desired. High-molecular-weight (100K-145 KDa) aliphatic-aromatic polyester PPAT was successfully synthesized, and the effects of reaction conditions on molecular weight were reported. PPAT polyesters were characterized for polymer compositions, number-average unit length, thermal transitions, and rheological properties. PPAT compression-molded films were characterized for crystallinity and tensile properties to correlate micro- and macroproperties. PPAT compression-molded films exhibited up to a 76% higher tensile modulus than compression-molded films from poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), making PPAT films potentially comparable with compression-molded films from linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). PPAT is biodegradable in soil and freshwater environments with estimated 90% biodegradation times of 504-580 and 604-845 days, respectively, while PBAT takes 971 days in soil and 395 days in freshwater.
Biodegradable High-Molecular-Weight Poly (pentylene adipate-coterephthalate): Synthesis, Thermo-Mechanical Properties, Microstructures, and Biodegradation
Student Center Ballroom
Poly (pentylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PPAT) is a promising biobased and biodegradable polymer that can replace polyethylene in flexible packaging films where biodegradability is desired. High-molecular-weight (100K-145 KDa) aliphatic-aromatic polyester PPAT was successfully synthesized, and the effects of reaction conditions on molecular weight were reported. PPAT polyesters were characterized for polymer compositions, number-average unit length, thermal transitions, and rheological properties. PPAT compression-molded films were characterized for crystallinity and tensile properties to correlate micro- and macroproperties. PPAT compression-molded films exhibited up to a 76% higher tensile modulus than compression-molded films from poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), making PPAT films potentially comparable with compression-molded films from linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). PPAT is biodegradable in soil and freshwater environments with estimated 90% biodegradation times of 504-580 and 604-845 days, respectively, while PBAT takes 971 days in soil and 395 days in freshwater.
