Synthesis and Properties of Polybutylene (Succinate)- b -poly(dimethylsiloxane) with Unprecedented Combined Performance and Functions.

The excellent combined properties of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) make it a promising biodegradable plastic. However, the lack of functionality and low impact strength limit its application. Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) was introduced to prepare new high-performance and functional poly(butylene succinate)- b -poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PBS- b -PDMS) in this work. The resulting PBS- b -PDMS was found to possess high molecular weight, narrow molecular weight distribution, and excellent combined performance. PBS- b -PDMS had good thermal properties. The decomposition temperature of 5% weight loss ( T 5% ) increased from 324 to 344 °C, and the temperatures at the maximum weight loss rate ( T max ) values increased from 385.1 to 396.7 °C. The impact strength increased significantly from 7.8 kJ/m 2 of PBS to 53.9 kJ/m 2 of PBS- b -PDMS. As the PDMS block endows copolymers with low surface energy and good liquid resistance, PBS- b -PDMS has excellent antismudge, self-cleaning, and solvent resistance. Finally, to minimize the surface energy, PDMS blocks preferentially enrich the surface, which imparts the polymers with self-cleaning properties.