Polystyrene/TiO2 composite electrospun fibers as fillers for poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate): Structure, morphology and properties

• Electrospun polystyrene fibers with different amounts of nanosized TiO2 were produced.
• The nanocomposite electrospun fibers were dispersed in a poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) matrix.
• TiO2 content was critical in determining the effect of the fibers on the behavior of the composites.
• By tuning TiO2 content in the fibers it is possible to improve the mechanical properties of the composites.
• The TiO2 content of the fibers allowed to tune the degradation rate of PBSA.

In this work, composite polystyrene/titanium dioxide (PS/TiO2) electrospun fibers were used as a reinforcement for a poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA) matrix. The structure, morphology, mechanical properties and degradation behavior of such materials were investigated, finding that, as a function of their TiO2 content, the fibers exerted different effects. The main mechanism through which the fibers modified the structure and morphology of the polymer matrix is by altering its crystallization kinetics. The presence of TiO2 modified the roughness of the fibers and therefore affected the interfacial adhesion between the filler and the matrix. The modulus of PBSA was improved, even though the brittleness of the materials was increased by the presence of the fibers. Different amounts of TiO2 within the fibers allowed to tune the hydrolytic degradation rate of the composites. This paper shows the potential of using composite electrospun fibers as effective fillers for the preparation of polymer-based composites.

In this work, composite electrospun fibers were used as a reinforcement for a polymer matrix. The fibers modified the structure and morphology of the polymer matrix by altering its crystallization kinetics. The modulus of the matrix was improved, and the inorganic component of the fibers mitigated the embrittlement of the material. Different amounts of TiO2 within the fibers allowed to tune the hydrolytic degradation rate of the composites..Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide