Abstract
Polylactic acid (PLA) exhibits remarkable biocompatibility and biodegradability, rendering it a highly promising material for applications in packaging and disposable products. However, its inherent brittleness, low melt strength, and slow crystallization rate significantly restrict its practical uses. Our previous studies have shown that incorporating the ADR chain extender can yield chitosan-polylactic acid-ADR (CS/PLA-ADR) composites with outstanding antibacterial properties, enhanced biodegradability, and the capability to effectively block water vapor and oxygen. However, the low elongation at break (less than 10%) limits its application in scenarios that require high ductility. To enhance the toughness of the CS/PLA-ADR composites, the flexible biodegradable polybutylene succinate (PBS) is innovatively introduced. The mechanical properties of PBS can be compared with polyethylene and polypropylene, providing high strength and toughness. The mechanism of introducing PBS is to construct a good, toughened structure through the flexible structure of PBS in collaboration with ADR toughening agent, achieving a balance between strength and toughness in CS/PLA-ADR-PBS composites. The incorporation of PBS is anticipated to improve the ductility of CS/PLA-ADR composites. This study systematically investigates the effects of varying PBS content (0-30%) on the properties of CS/PLA-ADR-PBS composites, aiming to determine the optimal PBS content and elucidate the mechanism by which PBS enhances the overall performance of the composites. The results indicate that when the PBS content is 20%, the composites exhibit optimal overall properties. This research provides a theoretical foundation and technical support for the development of environmentally friendly and sustainable packaging materials, offering significant research value and broad application prospects.