The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

This study examines the effects of composition on the mechanical and thermal properties of biodegradable poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA) blends. PBAT/PLA specimens with different blend ratios were prepared and analyzed using tensile testing (UTM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Increasing PBAT content improved elongation at break and viscoelastic behavior, while increasing PLA content enhance tensile strength and modulus but caused brittle fracture. Thermal analysis showed stable glass transition and melting temperatures, whereas crystallinity and thermal stability decreased with increasing PLA content. DMA results confirmed a transition from ductile to stiffness-dominated behavior with higher PLA content. These findings demonstrate that PBAT/PLA properties can be tailored through compositional control, providing guidelines for biodegradable polymer design.