Blending as a process for controlling the properties of poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PEF): Fully biobased PEF/PBF blends

2,5-Furandicarboxylic Acid (FDCA) is the most important aromatic monomer from biomass. It is used in the production of sustainable bioplastics, such as poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PEF). Blending is a sustainable process for materials with tailored properties. A series of fully biobased poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate)/poly(butylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PEF/PBF) blends were prepared. The blends showed partial miscibility. PEF crystallized faster in the blends with PBF, compared to neat PEF. This is beneficial for PEF's industrialization. The miscibility of the blends increased with reactive blending. With increasing melting temperature and time, a single Tg appeared after a shorter time, however there was a significant drop in the polyesters' molecular weight. Low melt mixing temperatures are the optimum. In such a case, the crystallization rates of both PBF and PEF still remain satisfactory. Finally, PEF-PBF blends are based on FDCA polyesters alone, which is a benefit in the recycling of the materials. [Display omitted] •Poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) - Poly(butylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PEF-PBF) blends showed partial miscibility.•The crystallization rates of PEF were improved by blending with PBF.•The reactive blending was found to substantially improve the miscibility of PEF-PBF blends.•Melt mixing at 230–240 °C for times of about 5 min seemed adequate to improve the miscibility of the PEF-PBF blends.