Organo-modified LDH fillers endowing multi-functionality to bio-based poly(butylene succinate): An extended study from the laboratory to possible market

Polybutylene succinate (PBS) were processed in melt extrusion by dispersion of organo-modified layered double hydroxide (LDH). Depending on the organic anion interleaved into LDH fillers (L-tyrosine (TYR), L-tryptophan (TRP), L-ascorbate (ASA) and 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate (HPP)), it was possible to control and tune the properties of the resulting PBS composites. Each LDH filler is found to act differently toward PBS, thus modifying its viscoelastic properties (as expressed by a chain extending effect), its rate of hydrolysis and photo-degradation or its antibacterial activity. The highest chain extending effect was observed in the case of LDH with L-tryptophan, the worst – with L-ascorbate anion. However, L-ascorbate anions interleaved into LDH present 100% activity in antibacterial properties. A better compromise may be achieved when PBS is mixed with different LDHs such as those combining HPP and ASA, making possible to target efficiently multi-properties such as small rate of hydrolysis, photo-stability, biocide activity as well as chain extension, thus turning to a multifunctional (bio)nanocomposites with new possible applications. Finally, a possible scale-up is demonstrated on thin films.