Real-time tracking of the hierarchical structure of biodegradable poly(butylene succinate-co-terephthalate) nanocomposites with fibrous attapulgite nanoparticles

Clearly understanding the structural development of materials during their preparation and processing allows for the fabrication of materials with expected properties that can be tailored for specific applications. In this work, we first presented the generation of poly(butylene succinate-co-terephthalate) (PBST) nanocomposites by combining the polymerization of copolymer with the simultaneous incorporation of fibrous attapulgite (ATP) nanoparticles with good dispersion. The lamellar structure, crystallization behavior and mechanical properties of PBST nanocomposites can be regulated by tuning the content of nanoparticles. The effects of nanoparticle morphology on the structure and properties of PBST nanocomposites with fibrous ATP and spherical silica nanoparticles also were investigated. The question why ATP nanoparticles always bring about faster crystallization rate and larger elongation at break than those caused by silica nanoparticles was answered as well. Furthermore, a schematic for the evolution of the hierarchical structure of PBST nanocomposites at each level during cooling was proposed. It was found that the formation and development of the hierarchical structure of PBST nanocomposites were highly temperature-dependent, and their cumulative growth leads to the final crystalline and hierarchical state. Studies of nanoparticles themselves and detailed changes of polymer structure in various scales are opening pathways for engineering flexible composites that can exploit the advantages of both polymers and nanoparticles.