The microstructures of extrusion cast biodegradable poly(butylene succinate) films investigated by X-ray diffraction

Cast films of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) were prepared by extrusion followed by stretching using a chill roll. The effects of extrusion temperature and take-up speed on the microstructures of the PBS cast films were investigated by two-dimensional wide angle X-ray diffraction (2D-WAXD) and small angle X-ray scattering (2D-SAXS) techniques. It was found that the processing conditions had almost no influence on the degree of crystallinity and the long period of the lamellae of the films, whereas the orientations at both crystal and lamellar levels increased with increasing take-up speed and decreasing extrusion temperature. In addition, the 2D-SAXS patterns revealed the formation of the shish-kebab structure at a lower extrusion temperature and higher take-up speed.

► Microstructures of extrusion cast PBS were investigated by 2D-WAXD and 2D-SAXS.
► Crystallinity and long period of lamellae were independent on processing conditions.
► Οrientations at both crystal and lamellar levels changed with processing conditions.
► Shish-kebab formed at a lower extrusion temperature and higher take-up speed.