Variation of the Tensile Properties of Basalt-Fiber-Reinforced Polybutylene Succinate Matrix Composites during Microbial Degradation

Little is known about how the strength of biodegradable polymers changes during decomposition. This study investigated the changes in the tensile properties of polybutylene succinate (PBS) and basalt-fiber (BF)-reinforced PBS (PBS-BF) composite sheets during degradation in bacterial solutions. Seven days after the start of the experiment, the elongation at break of the PBS specimens decreased significantly, and the PBS-BF composite specimens were characterized by barely any change in ultimate tensile strength (UTS) after immersion in the bacteria-free medium for 7 and 56 days. Meanwhile, when immersed in the bacterial solution, the UTS of the PBS-BF composite specimens showed a tendency to decrease after 7 days. After 56 days, the UTS decreased to about half of its value immediately after fabrication. The degradation of the material was attributed to infiltration of the bacterial solution into structurally weak areas, causing decomposition throughout the material.

Automated summary

Little is known about the changes in strength of biodegradable polymers during decomposition. This study focused on the tensile properties of polybutylene succinate (PBS) and basalt-fiber (BF)-reinforced PBS (PBS-BF) composite sheets during degradation in bacterial solutions. The results showed that the elongation at break of PBS specimens decreased significantly after 7 days, while the PBS-BF composite specimens had barely any change in ultimate tensile strength (UTS) after immersion in bacteria-free medium for 7 and 56 days. However, when immersed in bacterial solution, the UTS of PBS-BF composite specimens showed a tendency to decrease after 7 days, and after 56 days, it decreased to about half of its initial value, indicating decomposition throughout the material due to infiltration of the bacterial solution into structurally weak areas.