Polybutylene Succinate (PBS)

Polybutylene succinate (abbreviated as PBS) is synthesized through the polycondensation of succinic acid and butanediol, with a density of 1.26 g/cm³ and a melting point of 114°C. Depending on the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution, its crystallinity ranges from 30% to 45%.

PBS entered the field of materials research in the 1990s and quickly became one of the hot materials in the study of universally applicable, fully biodegradable plastics. Compared to other biodegradable plastics such as PCL, PHB, and PHA, PBS offers advantages like low cost and excellent mechanical properties. When compared to PLA, which has a similar price, PBS is easier to process, compatible with conventional plastic processing techniques, and has good heat resistance, with a heat distortion temperature exceeding 100°C (while PLA's heat resistance is only around 60°C). Moreover, the raw materials for PBS synthesis can be derived from petroleum resources or obtained through the fermentation of biomass resources, which has attracted significant attention from both the scientific and industrial communities. Among these fully biodegradable aliphatic polyesters, PBS stands out as one of the most promising universal biodegradable plastics for industrial applications.

PBS is a thermoplastic resin with good processing performance. It can be processed on standard molding equipment within a temperature range of 140–260°C. The material must be dried before processing, with a moisture content below 0.02%. It can be processed using methods such as injection molding, blow molding, film blowing, thermoforming, lamination, foaming, and spinning.

PBS is a fully biodegradable material with comprehensive performance properties, making it suitable for use in garbage bags, packaging bags, cosmetic and pharmaceutical bottles, disposable medical supplies, various plastic cards, agricultural materials, drug-controlled release carrier matrices, biomedical polymer materials, and other areas. It is also applicable to various plastic products related to environmental protection, such as nets and films for civil engineering and greening purposes.