Towards increased sustainability for aromatic polyesters: Poly(butylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) and its blends with poly(butylene terephthalate)

Abstract

Eco-friendly engineering polyesters originating from monomers derived from biomass such as 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (2,5-FDCA), constitute a family of materials that have recently attracted immense interest from industry and academia. Herein, poly(butylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PBF) was synthesized by the melt polycondensation method and PBF-based blends have been prepared with its terephthalate counterpart, poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT). Τhe X-ray diffraction patterns of the as-prepared blends revealed the presence of mixtures of crystals of the blend components. A detailed study of the thermal properties of the homopolymers and the blends was performed by employing both conventional and fast scanning calorimetry in an attempt to obtain amorphous samples, to reveal the glass transitions of the samples and export conclusions regarding their miscibility. The isothermal and dynamic crystallization of the samples was thoroughly studied along with the evaluation of multiple melting behaviour by applying conventional and fast scanning rates. In addition, reactive blending was investigated in order to improve the miscibility of the blends.