Extrusion and thermoforming of poly(butylene succinate–co‐butylene adipate)/poly(3–hydroxybutyrate–co–3–hydroxyhexanoate) bio‐based blends for the fabrication of disposable packaging

Thermoformed fossil-based disposable packaging is widely used in everyday life but it represents a serious environmental problem, as it is often incorrectly dispersed or destined to landfills. Bio-based and biodegradable materials can constitute and effective solution to this issue. Two different blends of poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) (PBSA) and Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBH) were studied as constituents for disposable packaging production. The blends were produced via twin screw extrusion. Sheets were cast extruded and then thermoformed into trays. A rheological, thermal and mechanical characterization was performed on compounds and manufacts. Both blends presented a good processability and interesting properties for packaging application, which can be tailored by varying the percentage of constituent polymers.Mechanical strenght of the trays. image