BioPBS™ (Polybutylene Succinate)
Satoshi Kato, Tadashi Ueda, Takayuki Aoshima, Naoyuki Kosaka, Shigeki Nitta
Abstract
Abstract PBS (polybutylene succinate) is a biodegradable polymer that is spontaneously degraded into water and carbon dioxide due to the power of microorganisms under soil in the natural world. PBS has high heat resistance and good mechanical properties among general biodegradable polymers, is moldable into the molded articles such as films, sheets, and fibers, and has a characteristic feature such that compatibility with other biodegradable polymers is high. Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) has successfully achieved commercialization of PBS without using a chain extender in a trademark name of “GS Pla™” and commenced the market development since 2003. “GS Pla™” is completely a biodegradable polymer made of fossil-based succinic acid and 1,4-butanediol as the main raw materials. Since 2017, PTTMCC Biochem, a joint venture established by Mitsubishi Chemical and PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited in Thailand, has performed continuous commercial production of bio-based PBS (trademark: BioPBS™) made of bio-based succinic acid and fossil-based 1,4-butanediol. Mitsubishi Chemical has also been developing, manufacturing, and selling FORZEAS™ that is a compounding material giving new functions to BioPBS™ utilizing the excellent compatibility with various biodegradable materials and biodegradability of BioPBS™. In this article, basic physical properties, biodegradability, moldability, certification acquisition, and characteristic features of BioPBS™ and FORZEAS™ were reviewed.