Effect of Polybutylene Adipate-Co-Terephthalate on Properties of Polylactide Microfibers Prepared by Electrospinning Process

Abstract

This research aims to study the effect of polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate on properties of polylactide microfibers prepared by electrospinning process which can be used in the industry and biomedical applications. Polylactide (PLA) and polybutylene adipate-
co-terephthalate (PBAT) were dissolved in chloroform. The ratio of chloroform/polylactide was 90/10 by weight. Dissolved PLA and PBAT were blended. PLA/PBAT ratio were 100/0, 90/10, 70/30, 50/50, 30/70, 10/90 and 0/100. The solution was then spun by electrospinning process. The suitable distance between the capillary needle and the ground collector was 15 centimeters. Electric potential was 15 kilovolts. Mechanical, thermal stability, thermal properties and crystalline structure of the fiber were studied. When adding PBAT in PLA, the thermal stability was increased, the elongation at break improved, as well as degree of crystallinity decreased. From tensile test, it was found that the strain of PLA was 13 and when adding 10% PBAT into PLA the strain increased to 19.  However, as the amount of PBAT increased, the size of the microfibers enlarged.