Mechanical and thermal performance of distillers grains filled poly(butylene succinate) composites

•Distillers grains (DG) was demonstrated as effective filler for PBS.•The incorporation of DG improved the elastic modulus of PBS.•The incorporation of DG increased the crystallinity rate of PBS.•The incorporation of DG decreased the damping property of PBS.•The incorporation of DG increased the flame retardancy of PBS.

The mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties, morphology, melting and crystallization behavior, as well as thermal stability of poly(butylene succinate)/distillers grains (PBS/DG) composites with different DG contents were investigated. The tensile modulus, crystallization rate, and crystallinity of PBS in the composites were efficiently enhanced in the presence of DG. The thermogravimetric analysis of the PBS/DG composites showed that their flame retardancy leveled up. The scanning electron microscopy analysis of the PBS/DG composites indicated that the DG was not damaged during the melt processing. These results supported the application of DG as fillers in polymer composites. Consequently, this study opened a new application of DG and has potential to decrease the cost of PBS-based materials with a variety of enhanced properties.