POSS(epoxy)8 reinforced poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/lignin biodegradable films: Fabrication, enhanced mechanical properties and UV aging resistance

To reduce the white pollution, the eco-friendly biodegradable poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)-based films had attracted increasing interests worldwide. However, the high-cost of the PBAT had limited the large-scale development and application. In this work, 10 wt% low-cost lignin was introduced into the PBAT to prepare composite films by melt blending and blow molding, and the POSS(epoxy)8 was selected as the compatibilizer to improve the compatibility of PBAT and lignin. The maximum tensile strength and the nominal strain at break subsequently increased by 48.2 % and 21.4 % respectively, while the water vapor permeability enhanced by 9.9 %. Furthermore, the UV aging resistance of PBAT/lignin films were significantly improved, with only 1 wt% POSS(epoxy)8 content. This work provides an efficient strategy to foster the end-user confidence in the low-cost and eco-friendly biodegradable polymer materials with efficient performance.