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Fabrication and characterisation of thermoplastic starch/poly(butylene succinate) blends with maleated poly(butylene succinate) as compatibiliser

Thermoplastic starch/poly(butylene succinate) (TPS/PBS), an entirely biodegradable polymer blend, was prepared by a two-step extrusion method. Maleic anhydride grafted PBS (rPBS) was successfully synthesised as an interfacial compatibiliser. The miscibility, morphology, thermal behaviour and mechanical properties of the TPS/PBS blends were investigated. The results demonstrated that the strength and elongation at break of TPS/PBS blends were greatly increased with the addition of rPBS in PBS blends due to improved interfacial miscibility. Better distribution and smaller phase domain were observed in the blends with higher content of compatibilisers. The water resistance was also enhanced by incorporation of rPBS. It was indicated that compatibilised TPS/PBS blends possessed a combination of good biodegradability, improved strength and high water resistance. TPS/PBS blend was expected to serve as a promising packing material.