Enhancement of Toughness and Barrier Properties in Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate/Polylactic Acid Composite Films by Modified Halloysite Nanotubes

ABSTRACT Polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) has good flexibility and tear resistance, but when used as a film, it has problems such as low tensile strength and poor gas barrier properties. Blending polylactic acid (PLA) with PBAT can effectively compensate for the mechanical performance defects of PBAT. However, blending PBAT and PLA has compatibility issues, and the tensile strength and gas barrier properties of PBAT/PLA (TA) films are still relatively low. Halloysite nanotubes (HNT) are hollow tubular inorganic nanomaterials with high specific strength and stiffness. Incorporating them into polymers can enhance the mechanical properties and gas barrier properties of polymer films. However, HNT tends to agglomerate, necessitating surface modification to improve its poor dispersibility in polymer matrices. In this study, to improve the mechanical properties and water vapor barrier properties of PBAT, PBAT and PLA were blended to prepare a TA blend, and HNT modified with 3‐aminopropyl triethoxysilane (KH550) (HNT‐NH ₂ ) was introduced. A reactive compatibilizer ADR4468 was used to enhance the compatibility between the components. TA/ADR/HNT‐NH ₂ nano‐composite films were prepared. The tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (EB), and water vapor permeability coefficient of the film were optimized to 41.28 MPa, 764%, and 15.6 × 10 ⁻¹⁴ g·cm/(cm ² ·s·Pa), respectively.