Additivation of PLA/PBAT Blends to Expand Applications in the Biodegradable Packaging Sector

The present study investigates the influence of different organic additives on PLA/PBAT blends, focusing on enhancing their thermal, mechanical, rheological, and microstructural properties for biodegradable packaging applications. Five additives were tested: citric acid, lauric acid, gum rosin, cellulose nanocrystals, and poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc). The blends were prepared in an internal mixing chamber and injection molded for mechanical testing. Characterizations included mechanical tests (tensile, flexural, Izod impact), thermal analyses (DSC, TGA), rheological assessments (torque, melt flow index), and SEM. Among the additives, PVAc showed the most promising results, improving phase dispersion through a core-shell structure and enhancing tensile strength (11.9%), toughness (32%), and flexural stress (26.5%). These results highlight PVAc as the most promising additive for optimizing the performance of PLA/PBAT blends. This study provides valuable insights into developing sustainable materials with improved properties for biodegradable packaging.