Radiation crosslinked poly(butylene succinate) foam and its biodegradation

The gel fraction (%) for poly(butylene succinate) (Bionolle) blended with b lowing agents was found to be higher than the pure Bionolle due to the pres ence of other component that also underwent crosslinking. It was also found that the cell diameter of the Bionolle foam produced from irradiated Biono lle blend decreases as the gel fraction increases, because the crosslink de nsity increases and thus it retards the bubble growth. Lower gel fraction, less than 5% was effective enough to give sufficient melt strength for prod uction of foams. It was found that the biodegradability of Bionolle foam in the enzymatic degradation test and soil burial test was higher than that o f crosslinked Bionolle (before foaming) because it contained many bubbles. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.