Preparation and characterization of crosslinked poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanocomposite by electron beam irradiation

The electron beam-induced crosslinking of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)/polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanocomposites was investigated in this study. PBAT/POSS nanocomposites prepared by a solution blending with various compositions were crosslinked by electron beam irradiation at various absorbed doses ranging from 20 to 200 kGy and their properties were characterized in terms of their degree of crosslinking, morphology, thermal and mechanical properties, and biodegradability. The results of the degree of crosslinking measurements revealed that PBAT/POSS nanocomposites were more effectively crosslinked than the pure PBAT and that the degree of crosslinking was dependent on the absorbed dose and POSS content. From the results of the FE-SEM and EDX analyses, the POSS was found to be uniformly dispersed in the PBAT matrix. Based on the results of the UTM, DMA, and TMA, the crosslinked PBAT/POSS nanocomposites exhibited much higher thermal and mechanical properties compared to those of the pure PBAT.

► Crosslinked PBAT/POSS nanocomposites were prepared by electron beam irradiation.
► The POSS as a nanofillers was homogeneously dispersed in the PBAT matrix.
► The crosslinked nanocomposites exhibited improved thermal and mechanical properties.