Influence of Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticles on the Soil Burial Degradation of Polybutyleneadipate-Co-Butylenetherephthalate Films

A polybutyleneadipate-co-butylenetherephthalate (PBAT) sample, commercially known as Ecoflex(®), was processed via melt extrusion with CaCO(3) nanoparticles coated with a hydrophobic coating. Blown films of PBAT and two composites with nanofiller (2% and 5%wt) were prepared and degradation tests in soil at 30 °C up to 180 days were carried out with weight loss measurements. Furthermore, biodegradation test according to ISO 14851 was carried out at 30 °C. The effect of CaCO(3) on soil burial degradation was assessed by surface wettability and SEM. ATR-FTIR and XPS analyses highlighted chemical modifications induced by soil degradation. CaCO(3) nanoparticles decreased surface wettability and discouraged the disintegration in soil. Interestingly, SEM images after soil degradation highlighted in the nanocomposite films selective zones of disintegration. XPS showed an increasing peak area C 1s ratio of C–O to C=O with degradation time. Moreover, after the soil burial test, carbonyl index determined by ATR-FTIR increased in both nanocomposites. In fact, the addition of CaCO(3) leads to a rise in the carbonyl zone due to the presence of the carbonate group. Remarkably, FTIR data after soil degradation showed an enrichment of the aromatic content, a preferential cleavage and erosion of the aliphatic moiety in PBAT films, amplified by the presence of the CaCO(3) nanofiller.