Fabrication and characterization of biodegradable composites from poly (Butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) and Taihu Lake Blue Algae

Abstract

Biodegradable composites from poly (butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) (PBSA) and Taihu Lake (Wuxi, China) blue algae were prepared by melt blending. The property and structure of biocomposites were investigated. By adding extra amount of water to blue algae, the formulated blue algae acted as a plastic in the composites during blending, and exhibited a reinforcing effect on the PBSA matrix. With increasing blue algae content, the thermal stability of the composites decreased; the tensile strength at break and elongation at break of the composites reduced, but the Young's modulus of the composites increased. However, the composite with 30% blue algae loading still exhibited good mechanical performance (tensile strength at break of 21.3 MPa, elongation at break of 180%). The fabrication of value-added PBSA/algae composites appeared as an effective approach to reduce the secondary environmental pollution of Taihu blue algae.