Influences of hyperbranched poly(amide-ester) on the properties of poly(butylene succinate)

The polymer blends of hyperbranched poly(amide-ester) and poly(butylene succinate) (HBP/PBS) were prepared by melt-blending method. The molecular interaction within the blends, phase morphology, crystal morphology, mechanical, rheological and dynamic mechanical properties were investigated by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), tensile machine, polarized optical microscopy, rotational rheometer and dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA), respectively. The results suggest that PBS and HBP have a certain compatibility at amorphous state. A certain number of H-bonding was detected between PBS and HBP phases and it influences the material properties. HBP not only serves partially as a nucleating agent for the crystallization of PBS but also plays a role of plasticizer for the rheology of PBS. The glass transition temperatures of the blends slightly decrease with increasing HBP content. The proper amount of HBP (4–6%) has a reinforcement effect on the PBS matrix at glassy state. However, the blend with 10%HBP content has an improved impact strength mainly due to the plasticization effect or H-bonding effect of HBP on PBS matrix. The storage modulus is increased with increasing HBP contents, and the loss modulus is much smaller than the storage modulus in each blend at glassy state. At rubbery state the storage modulus of different samples is independent of HBP content. The complex viscosity of the melt decreases with increasing HBP content; however, the blend with 10%HBP is a special sample because of its abnormal larger complex viscosity at low shear frequencies. In addition, the melt’s elasticity behavior increases slightly with increasing HBP content.