Mechanical recyclability of technical biopolymers: Potential and limits

The mechanical recyclability of the technical biopolymers polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), polybutylene succinate (PBS) and polyhydroxy alkanoate blend (PHBV/PBAT) was evaluated by assessing the effect of repeated polymer processing (extrusion without further compounding with virgin material or additives) on the material structure and mechanical properties. Reprocessing-induced hydrolytic degradation was found to be the prevalent aging mechanism of the investigated biopolymer grades. However, susceptibility to hydrolysis, and thus maintenance of the performance characteristics, differed strongly between the biopolymer types. To that effect, PTT and CAB especially exhibit a high potential for mechanical recycling. By taking advantage of appropriate additivation, the mechanical recyclability of PBS and PHBV/PBAT is also assumed to be high.