What is PBAT plastic? Pros and cons of PBAT

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What is PBAT plastic? Pros and cons of PBAT

PBAT, or Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate, is a type of biodegradable and compostable plastic that is gaining popularity as an eco-friendly solution to the problem of plastic waste. PBAT is made from renewable resources, such as corn starch and sugarcane, and can break down naturally in the environment. In this article, we will explore the pros and cons of PBAT plastic and its applications. Whether you&#;re looking to use this material in your business or just want to learn more about it, this article provides valuable information that you can use to make informed decisions.

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I. What is PBAT plastic?

1. What is PBAT?

PBAT (Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate) is a type of thermoplastic polymer that is quickly gaining popularity as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics.

&#; What is PBAT made from? PBAT is made from renewable resources such as sugar cane and corn starch and is a copolymer of polybutylene adipate and terephthalic acid.

&#; Is PBAT biodegradable? It is known for its biodegradability and compostability, which means it can be broken down into its constituent parts by microorganisms in the environment, reducing its impact on the ecosystem.

PBAT polymer can be processed using conventional plastic processing techniques and can be blended with other biodegradable polymers to improve its properties. The use of PBAT in packaging and consumer goods is expected to continue to grow as consumers and businesses look for more sustainable solutions.

2. Applications:

PBAT plastic has a wide range of applications due to its unique properties and eco-friendly nature. Some of the most common applications of PBAT polymer include:

&#; Compostable food packaging: PBAT&#;s flexibility and moisture resistance make it ideal for packaging food items, such as fruit and vegetable bags, snack packaging, and cereal boxes. Its ability to provide a good barrier against gases and liquids helps extend the shelf life of food products.

&#; Compostable agriculture films: PBAT&#;s toughness and resistance to moisture make it suitable for use in agriculture films, such as mulch films, greenhouse films, and silage covers.

&#; Compostable biodegradable shopping bags: PBAT can be used to manufacture biodegradable shopping bags, which can help reduce the amount of plastic waste in the environment.

&#; Compostable home and personal care products: PBAT can be used to manufacture a variety of home and personal care products, such as shampoo bottles, soap containers, and toothbrushes.

&#; Medical products: PBAT can be used in the manufacture of medical products such as suture materials, wound dressings, and other medical devices.

Overall, the versatility and eco-friendly nature of PBAT polymer make it a promising alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics, and its use is expected to continue to grow as consumers and businesses seek more sustainable solutions.

II. Advantages and disadvantages of PBAT

This section will provide an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of PBAT, helping you make an informed decision about whether it&#;s the right choice for your needs.

1. Advantages of PBAT:

&#; Biodegradability and compostability: PBAT is biodegradable and compostable, meaning it can be broken down into its constituent parts by microorganisms in the environment. This helps to reduce its impact on the ecosystem and minimizes plastic waste.

&#; Renewable resources: PBAT is made from renewable resources such as sugar cane and corn starch, reducing its reliance on non-renewable petroleum-based resources.

&#; Versatile: PBAT is flexible and tough, making it suitable for a wide range of applications such as food packaging, agriculture films, and biodegradable shopping bags.

&#; Good barrier properties: PBAT provides a good barrier against gases and liquids, helping to extend the shelf life of packaged goods and maintain the freshness of food items.

2. Disadvantages of PBAT:

&#; Cost: PBAT is more expensive to produce compared to traditional petroleum-based plastics, which can make it more expensive for consumers.

&#; Limited industrial use: PBAT is not as widely used in the industry compared to traditional plastics, which may limit its availability and make it harder to find a suitable solution for some applications.

&#; Environmental impact: Although PBAT is biodegradable and compostable, it still has an impact on the environment if not disposed of properly. The composting process also requires specific conditions to break down the material effectively.

&#; Performance limitations: PBAT has some performance limitations compared to traditional petroleum-based plastics, such as a lower melting temperature and reduced resistance to UV light and heat.

III. PBAT vs PLA: what is the difference?

PBAT (Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate) and PLA (Polylactic Acid) are both biodegradable and compostable plastics that are gaining popularity as alternatives to traditional petroleum-based plastics. However, they have some key differences that set them apart from each other.

&#; Composition: PBAT is a copolymer made from a combination of polybutylene adipate and polyethylene terephthalate, while PLA is made from lactic acid, which is derived from corn starch, sugarcane, or other renewable resources.

&#; Performance: PBAT is flexible and tough, making it suitable for a wide range of applications such as food packaging and biodegradable shopping bags. On the other hand, PLA is rigid and brittle, making it more suitable for applications where stiffness and dimensional stability are important, such as cutlery, drinking straws, and packaging for electronics.

&#; Biodegradability and compostability: Both PBAT and PLA are biodegradable and compostable, but PBAT has a faster degradation rate compared to PLA, meaning it will break down more quickly in the environment.

&#; Cost: PBAT is more expensive to produce compared to traditional petroleum-based plastics, while PLA is typically more expensive compared to PBAT.

In conclusion, both PBAT vs PLA have their own unique advantages and disadvantages and the choice between them will depend on the specific requirements of the application. It is important to carefully evaluate the trade-offs between performance, cost, and environmental impact when making a decision.

Biodegradable copolymer, chemical compound

Chemical compound

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PBAT (short for polybutylene adipate terephthalate) is a biodegradable random copolymer, specifically a copolyester of adipic acid, 1,4-butanediol and terephthalic acid. PBAT is produced by many different manufacturers and may be known by the brand names ecoflex, Wango, Ecoworld, Eastar Bio, and Origo-Bi. It is also called poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) and sometimes polybutyrate-adipate-terephthalate[1] (a misnomer) or even just "polybutyrate".[2] It is generally marketed as a fully biodegradable alternative to low-density polyethylene, having many similar properties including flexibility and resilience, allowing it to be used for many similar uses such as plastic bags and wraps.[3] The structure is a random-block polymer consisting of butanediol&#;adipic acid and butanediol-terephthalic acid blocks.

History

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Production of plastics for use in the industrial sector around the world makes up a very large market. PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is one of the dominant plastics within this market. It is commonly used for bottles because it makes a rigid container that is very lightweight. However, because of the stability of PET, it is also highly resistant to biodegradation, posing a significant environmental problem because of the amount of PET produced, sold, used and thrown away on a daily basis. An estimated 30% of the world production of PET goes into making these plastic bottles and only from 15% to 35% is recycled; the rest usually end up in a landfill.[4] This has stimulated research into polymers that function comparably to PET, but are biodegradable.[5]

As with all developments in the realm of materials there are several requirements for the 'ideal' material. For biodegradable plastics, they would be: cheap, renewable, easy to produce and eco-friendly. In addition to these, the polymer should be resistant enough to be functional, such as handling the strain of being put under pressure, and flexible so that it is easy to mold. There are no homopolymers that perfectly provide every one of these features. Therefore, researchers have turned their attention to copolymers: combinations of polymers that have chemical and mechanical properties that complement each other. This led to identifying poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) as a potential copolymer for blending.

PBAT is a random copolymer known for being flexible and tough. This makes it ideal for combination with other biodegradable polymers that have high elastic modulus and strength, but are very brittle.[6] This allows for the production of blended copolymers that can replace industry-standard plastics with environmentally safe and biodegradable plastics that will harmlessly disappear in a short period of time.

Properties

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PBAT is classified as a random copolymer due to its random structure. This also means that it cannot crystallize to any significant degree due to the absence of any kind of structural order. This leads to several physical properties: wide melting point, low elastic modulus and stiffness, but high flexibility and toughness. The flexibility and toughness of this polymer makes it ideal for blending with another biodegradable polymer that is strong and rigid for bottle production.[5]

The drawback of this polymer is that if it has high flexibility and toughness, then it will not be strong and rigid. This makes it non-ideal for any situation in which a strong, rigid container is desired. An example of this would be transparent barriers, such as those made of plexiglass (Poly(methyl methacrylate)), a transparent glass substitute.[5]

PBAT is fully biodegradable when composted due to the presence of butylene adipate groups. The high stability and mechanical properties come from the terephthalate portions.[5]

Does not degrade in marine and fresh water.[7]

Preparation

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The polyester of adipic acid is synthesized using 1,4-butanediol. The chain lengths are kept low by using an excess of diol in the reaction.

PBAT is synthesized from the polymer of 1,4-butanediol and adipic acid and the polymer of dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) with 1,4-butanediol.

Adipic acid and 1,4-butanediol are polymerized to create their polyester (plus water). DMT and 1,4-butanediol are also reacted to form their polyester (plus methanol). This polyester is then added to the butylene adipic acid polyester by using tetrabutoxytitanium (TBOT) as a transesterification catalyst; an overabundance of 1,4-butanediol influences chain lengths. The result is a copolymer of the two previously prepared polymers.

The polyester of DMT is generated using 1,4-butanediol. This is the second polymer used with the step 1 product to create the copolymer PBAT. TBOT is used to catalyze the transesterification of the polyesters of adipic acid and DMT to generate the random, copolymer PBAT.

This is a random copolymer, because there is no control on the dispersity of the polymer chain lengths or block structuring in the copolymerization reactions; repeat positions are not controlled. If A = polyester of adipic acid and B = polyester of DMT, each with 1,4-butanediol, then the chain structuring could look like any of these: AABABBABA or ABABAAAABB or ABABABBBBA; there is no selectivity for A and B reacting with themselves or each other.[8]

Commercial sources

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PBAT is produced commercially by BASF under the trademark ecoflex[3] and in a blend with poly(lactic acid) called ecovio,[9] by Novamont as Origo-Bi and in a blend with starch called Mater-Bi,[10] by Zhuhai Wango Chemical Co Ltd under the name Wango, by JinHui Zhaolong as Ecoworld and in a blend with starch called Ecowill, and by Eastman Chemical as Eastar Bio.[11] Furthermore, suppliers in China and other nations now produce PBAT. These companies include Zhejiang Biodegradable Advanced Material Co. Ltd, Dongguan Xinhai Environmental Protection Material Co., Ltd.,[12] Hangzhou Ruijiang Chemical Co., Ltd.,[13] and Jiangsu Torise Biomaterials Co., Ltd.[14] in China as well as Green Chemical Co., Ltd.[15] and WILLEAP[16] in South Korea.

Current and future uses

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PBAT is marketed commercially as a fully biodegradable plastic, with BASF's ecoflex showing 90% degradation after 80 days in testing.[17] Particular applications that are highlighted by the manufacturers include cling wrap for food packaging, compostable plastic bags for gardening and agricultural use, and as water resistant coatings for other materials, as in paper cups.[18] Due to its high flexibility and biodegradable nature, PBAT is also marketed as an additive for more rigid biodegradable plastics to impart flexibility while maintaining full biodegradability of the final blend.

PBAT is already widely marketed and used for all of the above applications, but is also being investigated as a component in antimicrobial films. In such films, PBAT serves as the bulk of the film with the antimicrobial agent being incorporated during processing. The antimicrobial films would be used in food packaging to inhibit bacterial growth, helping to preserve food products safely.[19]

References

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If you want to learn more, please visit our website compostable pbat plastic for biodegradable toys.