Research on the impact of active calcium carbonate on the performance of degradable composite films

Abstract Active CaCO 3 (AC) was prepared via a carbonization‒wet modification process, and a PBAT/PPCU/active CaCO 3 composite films (FAC) was obtained via the blown film method using AC and polybutylene adipate‒terephthalate (PBAT)/polymethyl ethylene carbonate-thermoplastic polyurethane rubber (PPCU). The influence of AC on the performance of the FAC was investigated via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetry (TG), rheological behavior, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission rate of water vapor, and tensile properties. The addition of AC significantly improved the thermostability and crystallization ability of the composite film system. With increasing addition of AC, the tensile strength and breaking elongation of the FACs both tended to increase but then decreased. Compared with F-0, FAC-20 presented the most remarkable tensile performance, with tensile strength and breaking elongation increasing by 21.83 % and 18.56 %, respectively. Furthermore, the transmission rate and permeability of water vapor of FAC-20 were reduced by 21.45 % and 38.78 %, respectively. The addition of AC improved the interfacial compatibility of the PBAT phase and the PPCU phase, which improved the complex viscosity, loss modulus, and storage modulus of the FACs.