Preparation and Properties of Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/thermoplastic Hydroxypropyl Starch Composite Films Reinforced with Nano-Silica

The use of biodegradable plastics is gradually increasing, but its expensive cost limits promotion. In this study, poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/thermoplastic hydroxypropyl starch reinforced with nano-silica (PBAT/TPHS(g-SiO2)) composite films with high hydroxypropyl starch content were prepared in a two-step process. The effect of reinforced thermoplastic hydroxypropyl starch on the mechanical, thermal, processing properties, and micromorphology of the composite films was investigated. The results showed that the tensile strength of the composite films was significantly improved by the addition of nano-silica, with 35% increase in horizontal tensile strength and 21% increase in vertical tensile strength after the addition of 4 phr of nano-silica. When the content of thermoplastic hydroxypropyl starch reinforced with nano-silica (TPHS(g-4SiO2)) is 40%, the horizontal and vertical tensile strengths of the films are 9.82 and 12.09 MPa, respectively, and the elongation at break of the films is over 500%. Electron micrographs show that TPHS(g-4SiO2) is better homogeneously dispersed in the PBAT and exhibits a bi-continuous phase structure at a TPHS(g-4SiO2) content of 40%. In this study, the blowing PBAT/TPHS(g-4SiO2) composite films effectively reduce the cost and still show better mechanical properties, which are suitable for packaging applications.