Structure and enhanced mechanical properties of biobased poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) by incorporating with low loadings of talc platelets

Bio-based renewable poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PEF) has emerged as an ideal alternative of fossil-based poly(ethylene terephthalate). Herein, well dispersed PEF/talc composites were successfully fabricated by melt compounding, and the structures and material properties of injection molded products were explored by multiple methods. Despite the amorphous state of as-injected samples, the introducing of talc platelets drastically reinforced the mechanical properties of the composites, and a low loading of 1.0 wt% talc led to the average increments of tensile strength and elongation at break of 49% and 65% respectively without sacrificing thermal stability, relative to pristine PEF. The intensifying effect can be ascribed to the good interfacial interaction originating from hydrogen-bonds between the filler and PEF matrix. [Display omitted] •Novel biobased PEF/talc composites were fabricated by melt-compounding.•Low loadings of talc platelets were uniformly dispersed within PEF matrix.•Strongly improved mechanical properties without sacrificing thermal stability were obtained.•Good interfacial interaction deriving from hydrogen bonds between talc and PEF was affirmed.