Properties of polybutylene succinate and polybutylene succinate -polycaprolactone based composite reinforced with coconut shell particles

ABSTRACT In order to increase the interfacial adhesion between polybutylene succinate and coconut shell particles, two kinds of chemical treatment of coconut shell particle were carried out. Firstly, a 5% sodium hydroxide treatment and secondly, a 2% sodium hydroxide plus silane coupling agent treatment. The possibility of increasing matrix adhesion has also been explored through addition of polycaprolactone to polybutylene succinate as a matrix. Composites were produced using extrusion prior to injection moulding. The results show that, compared with neat polybutylene succinate, composites with low percentage of particle loading have a higher tensile strength and strain at break despite their lower elastic modulus. A higher elastic modulus can be obtained for composites with higher particle loadings through sacrifice of their ductility. The same trend is observed for composites with the polymer-blend matrix. Scanning electron micrographs show good adhesion between particle and matrix for particles that undergo the second treatment. At low percentage of particle addition, the crystallinity of the composites is higher than the neat polybutylene succinate, however melting temperature is less affected by the addition of reinforcement. Rheological properties such as storage modulus, loss modulus and complex viscosity of the composites are higher than for neat polybutylene succinate. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT