Publication: Thermal, mechanical and biodegradation characteristics of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) composite for mulch film application
| datacite.subject.fos | oecd::Engineering and technology::Materials engineering::Materials engineering | |
| dc.contributor.author | Maisara Azad, Mat Akhir | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-11-27T08:39:59Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-11-27T08:39:59Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-08-01 | |
| dc.description.abstract | The extensive use of polyethylene (PE) mulch film has negatively impacted the environment due to carbon dioxide emissions and its slow degradation property. Research indicates that PE takes about 100 years to fully decompose. Biodegradable polymer mulch films, designed for in situ biodegradation, have garnered global attention as a solution to this environmental issue. The present study aims to develop biodegradable polymeric mulch films based on Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) biocomposites for crop protection. PBAT blended with 10 to 50 wt% thermoplastic starch (TPS) was prepared via melt blending technique and characterized for mechanical, thermal, and water barrier properties suitable for mulching. Sugarcane bagasse (SB) fibers (5 to 20 wt%), untreated and treated with (3-Glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) and alkaline were incorporated into the PBAT/TPS(90/10) optimized blend. Results obtained from the study were compared with the soil biodegradable mulch films standard, EN17033. Next, the protective additives, including hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS), carbon black (CB), and anti-hydrolysis agent (AH), 0 to 2wt% were incorporated into the formulation to mitigate photodegradation and biodegradation. Lastly, the formulations were optimized using the design of experiment (DOE), fabricated for mulching films, and applied in the pak choy cultivation plant pots. The temperature change, crops’ yield, and film biodegradation were evaluated. From the findings, the optimal composition for the PBAT/TPS blend is PBAT/TPS(90/10), exhibiting high tensile strength (23.87 MPa) and elongation at break (1135.69%). In the second part of the study, the results showed that 5% of treated SB in PBAT/TPS(90/10) showed adequate tensile strength (13.5 MPa), elongation (739.5%), thermal stability (up to 280 °C), good water barrier property (less than 9% water absorption after 76 hrs), and is having hydrophobic property compared to the EN17033. Surface treatments increased SB biocomposite's tensile strength and flexibility by 6 to 15%. DOE analysis indicated that all additives preserved tensile properties and reduced degradation, with AH showing the highest contribution which is more than 32.8% contribution under natural weathering, more than 57.3% under soil burial, and more than 26.9% under artificial accelerated weathering conditions. Lastly, the applied formulated mulching films increased up to 0 – 2℃ soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm than no mulch, maintained 35 to 38% higher soil moisture levels than PE mulch, excellent weed control, and comparable crop yields to PE and commercialized biodegradable mulch. Additives added in the formulation protected the films, ensuring durability and self-biodegradation throughout the cultivation season. Overall, this study demonstrates the successful fabrication of biodegradable mulching film based on PBAT for crop protection. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://erepo.usm.my/handle/123456789/23258 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.title | Thermal, mechanical and biodegradation characteristics of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) composite for mulch film application | |
| dc.type | Resource Types::text::thesis::doctoral thesis | |
| dspace.entity.type | Publication | |
| oairecerif.author.affiliation | Maisara Azad, Mat Akhir |