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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #136799
Title: INTERFACIAL ADHESION IN POLYSTYRENE/BIODEGRADABLE POLYESTER BLENDS

Author
item Biresaw, Girma
item Carriere, Craig
item Willett, Julious

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/26/2003
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Biodegradable polyesters (BPEs) have unique combinations of biodegradability, biocompatibility and water-resistance properties. As a result, BPEs are being actively developed as blend components of natural polymers such as starch, to improve its water-resistance. BPEs are also being developed as blend components of synthetic polymers to impart them biodegradability and biocompatibility. Commercially available BPEs include polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, and Eastar Bio®. Recent studies have shown that the interfacial tension of BPEs with polystyrene (PS) to be highly dependent on the chemistry of the BPEs. Such differences in interfacial tension are indications of the differences in the surface energies of these BPEs, and could affect their compatibility and adhesion with other blend components. In this work, the interfacial adhesion between PS and BPEs were investigated using an asymmetric double cantilever beam fracture test. The result is analyzed in order to examine the effect of BPE chemistry on both interfacial tension and interfacial adhesion.