LAUSR

Abstract Sustainable biocomposites from biobased poly(butylene succinate) (BioPBS) and apple pomace (AP) were fabricated using melt extrusion followed by injection molding processing. When used as a filler, the AP can be diverted from waste into value added products. For the manufacture of the composites, in situ manufactured Bio-PBS grafted maleic anhydride (MA-g-BioPBS) was used in order to increase interfacial adhesion between the two phases. Thus, comparisons were made between compatibilized and uncompatibilized composites. The mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties, morphology, as well as the crystallization phenomena were investigated for both composites at different filler contents (20, 30, 40, and 50 wt%). Overall, the tensile and flexural moduli and the flexural strength were significantly enhanced with respect to the neat polymer, with optimal values achieved with 40 wt% of AP and 3 wt% of MA-g-BioPBS. Although the tensile stress was drastically reduced in uncompatibilized composites, it was recovered with the addition of the coupling agent. Furthermore, it was interesting to find out an increase of ~ 150% in the impact strength in uncompatibilized samples with respect to the neat polymer, confirming the ability of AP to act as reinforcing filler. Increases were found in the degree of crystallinity as well as with the melting temperature with the presence of MA-g-BioPBS. Graphical Abstract