Resistance to photodegradation and thermomechanical degradation of bio-polybutylene succinate

Bioderived and biodegradable plastics from renewable sources have the advantage of being sustainable and non-polluting materials compared to traditional fossil plastics, avoiding the problems of disposal and environmental contamination. Polybutylene succinate (PBS) is an example of a bioplastic with physical-mechanical characteristics like traditional and widely used polyolefins from fossil sources. To process this bioplastic and use it in bio-medical fields, we tested the resistance to thermomechanical degradation during processing with a twin-screw extruder and we also verified its resistance to the action of UVC rays, used as a sterilizing source. Mechanical tensile characterization tests, hardness tests, wettability and surface roughness tests, thermal stability tests were performed on the samples before and during degradation. The results indicate that the polymer matrix is stable for 5 processing cycles but changes its mass and surface properties after exposure to UVC rays. However, in the presence of a UV-adsorber, several sterilization cycles are possible before the material is compromised.