Antioxidant and UV-Blocking Functionalized Poly(Butylene Succinate) Films

The introduction of a limited number of functional groups on poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) chains by covalent bonding can impart new properties to the polymer without modifying its thermal and mechanical properties. In pursuit of a viable approach to obtain light- and heat-stabilized PBS samples, the nitroxide radical coupling (NRC) reaction between PBS macroradicals and the 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (BHB-TEMPO), a functionalizing agent bearing a sterically-hindered antioxidant phenol moiety, is here proposed. The reaction was initiated by peroxide and carried out in solution and in a melt. The functionalized materials were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) analysis to gain structural information and by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to investigate the thermal properties. In addition, films of the samples were subjected to thermal and photo-oxidative aging to assess their resistance to degradative processes. Finally, the PBS film with the highest degree of functionalization showed the ability to protect β-carotene, a molecule found in food and drugs and that is very sensitive to UV light, from degradation. This result suggests the use of this material (either alone or blended with other biopolyesters) for biodegradable and compostable active packaging.