Solubility parameters of biodegradable polymers from turbidimetric titrations

Abstract

Biodegradable plastics have received great attention in polymer industries from the ecological view point. A number of plastics with biodegradability properties have been developed over the recent decades. In this study, several types of biodegradable plastics were selected: poly(butylene succinate) homopolymer (PBS), poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) copolymer (PBSA), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHB/V), poly(lactide) (PLA) and poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL). Solubility parameters, which are key parameters for polymer blends, of PBS, PBSA, PHB/V, PLA and PCL, were evaluated by means of turbidimetric titrations. These solubility parameters were approximately, identical to one another; the values were around 20(J/cm3)0.5.