Synthesis and characterizations of attapulgite reinforced branched poly(butylene succinate) nanocomposites

• Attapulgite is used as both the nucleating agent and reinforcing filler.
• The mechanical properties of nanocomposites are improved by the interactions.
• The break elongation of ATP reinforced PBS was twice of that unreinforced one.
• The distribution and dispersion of ATP are also improved by the interactions.

The poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and 3 wt% attapulgite (ATP) reinforced branched PBS/ATP nanocomposites were fabricated using a two-step in situ polymerization method as potential packing materials. The significant findings in this research were that the improved chemical–physical properties due to the hydrogen bonding interactions between the ATP surface and PBS matrix. By hydrogen bonding interactions, the ATP could be uniformly dispersed in PBS matrix, resulting in the improved mechanical properties. The introduction of 1,2-octanediol (1,2-OD) improved the thermal stability and the break elongation of PBS, but decreased the tensile strength, crystallization temperature, and crystallization rate. On the contrary, the ATP can effectively act as a nucleating agent, which enhanced the crystallization temperature of PBS matrix. Thus, the potential packing materials with various chemical–physical properties could be prepared by different contents of ATP and 1,2-OD units.

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