High-performance and economic biodegradable composites based on polybutylene adipate terephthalate and modified lignin

Polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) is a biodegradable polymer with promising properties, but its wide-spread application is limited by factors such as high cost, suboptimal mechanical characteristics, and slow biodegradation rate. In this study, these limitations are addressed by incorporating low-cost lignin, modified with an isocyanate compound, into PBAT via an extrusion process. By investigating the effects of varying isocyanate content on the lignin surface, the optimal modification conditions at room temperature are identified over 48 h. Additionally, the maximum lignin content (5 wt%) is determined within the composite to achieve a balance between mechanical, thermal, and biodegradation properties while also considering the economic and environmental feasibility of the polymer composite. The research delved into the examination of both the minimum selling price (MSP) and global warming potential (GWP) for all PBAT-mLigA composites. The optimized PBAT-mLigA composites exhibited a notable reduction of up to 7% in both MSP and GWP when compared to pure PBAT. The predominant determinants influencing the economic and environmental potentials of these composites are the pricing of PBAT and the ratio in which it is incorporated into the proposed composites.