22. Crystallization kinetics and hydrophilicity improvement of biodegradable poly(butylene succinate) in its miscible blends with poly(ethylene oxide). Lu J, Qiu Z,* Yang W. Macromolecular Materials and Engineering 2008; 293 (11): 930-938.
The sphemlitic morphology and growth, overall isothermal crystallization kinetics and hydrophilicity of PBSU were investigated by POM, DSC and WCA measurements in its miscible blends with PEO. The Hoffman-Lauritzen equation was employed to analyze the spherulitic growth rates of neat and blended PBSU, which show a crystallization regime transition between regime II and III. The overall crystallization rates of PBSU decreased with increasing crystallization temperature, regardless of blend composition, while the crystallization mechanism does not change. A significant improvement in the hydrophilicity of PBSU can be achieved by blending with different weight fractions of PEO, which may be essential for the practical application of PBSU/PEO blends.