Preparation and physical properties of biodegradable polybutylene succinate/polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate blend monofilament by melt spinning

In order to improve the breaking strength and elongation of Polybutylene succinate (PBS) monofilament, themonofilament was produced by blending PBS and Polybutlyne adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT). ThePBS/PBAT blend monofilament was prepared by the melt spinning system, and the weight ratios of thecompositions of PBS/PBAT was 100/0, 95/5, 90/10 and 85/15, respectively. The breaking strength,elongation, softness and crystallization of PBS/PBAT blend monofilament were analyzed by using atensionmeter, softness measurement, X-ray diffractometer in the both dry and wet conditions. ThePBS/PBAT blend monofilaments were spun in the take-up velocity of 1.19m/sec under the drawing ratio of6.8:1 condition. The production volumes of PBS/PBAT blend monofilaments showed 20% less than that ofNylon. The breaking strength of PBS/PBAT blend monofilaments were decreased as PBAT contentsincreased, while elongation and softness were increased. In case of PBAT content were over 5%, thebreaking strength, elongation and softness of PBS/PBAT blend monofilaments were not shown to increasein spite of increasing in PBAT contents. Based on these results, it was possible to make the monofilamentswith the maximized physical properties when the PBAT contents at 5%.Keywords: Biodegradation, Polybutylene succinate, Monofilament, Physical properties