**4.5 Attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR)**

FTIR spectra of PBAT/PLA blends and PBAT/PLA blends with 10phr of bio-CaCO3 and 5 phr of PLA gamma-radiated at 150 kGy are shown, respectively, in **Figures 12** and **13**.

For PLA, the peak at around 752 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> associated with the rocking vibration of α-methyl; peak at around 864 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> associated with the ester (O-CH-CH3); the peak at around 1042, , and 1180 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> associated with the stretching vibration of C-O-C; the peak at 1381 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> associated with the CH symmetric bending vibration; the peak at around 1450 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> associated with the CH3 antisymmetric; the peak at 1748 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> associated with the carbonyl C=O stretching vibration; and the symmetric and antisymmetric stretching vibration of CH3 of saturated hydrocarbons were found at 2943 and 2997 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> , respectively [46, 47].

**149**

**Figure 11.**

*approximately 400 kg m<sup>−</sup><sup>3</sup>*

 *density.*

*Study of Bio-Based Foams Prepared from PBAT/PLA Reinforced with Bio-Calcium Carbonate…*

CH-plane of benzene ring; the symmetric stretching vibration of trans-C-O was

the surface of adjacent hydrogen atoms on the phenyl ring; the peak at 1103 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> associated with the left-right symmetric stretching vibration of C-O; the peak

associated with the C-O symmetric stretching vibration; the peak

associated with the skeleton vibration of the benzene ring; the peak at

associated with the C-O stretching vibration; and the peak at 2959 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

associated with the trans-CH2-plane bending vibration; the peak at

associated with the bending vibration of

associated with the bending vibration at

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85462*

; the peak at 1018 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

associated with the CH2 asymmetric stretching vibration [46, 47].

*SEM micrographs, 500 X magnification, for pure PLA (a) and pure PBAT (b).*

*SEM micrographs of foams, randomly chosen, with different magnifications: 150 (a), 35 (b), and 18 (c) X,* 

*Structural foams: (a) extruded foams from a 4 mm die extruder; (b) cylinder structural foams, of* 

For PBAT, the peak at 725 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

found at 937 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

at 1265 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

at 1408 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

1504 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

1713 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

**Figure 9.**

**Figure 10.**

*respectively.*

#### *Study of Bio-Based Foams Prepared from PBAT/PLA Reinforced with Bio-Calcium Carbonate… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85462*

For PBAT, the peak at 725 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> associated with the bending vibration of CH-plane of benzene ring; the symmetric stretching vibration of trans-C-O was found at 937 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> ; the peak at 1018 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> associated with the bending vibration at the surface of adjacent hydrogen atoms on the phenyl ring; the peak at 1103 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> associated with the left-right symmetric stretching vibration of C-O; the peak at 1265 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> associated with the C-O symmetric stretching vibration; the peak at 1408 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> associated with the trans-CH2-plane bending vibration; the peak at 1504 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> associated with the skeleton vibration of the benzene ring; the peak at 1713 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> associated with the C-O stretching vibration; and the peak at 2959 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> associated with the CH2 asymmetric stretching vibration [46, 47].

**Figure 9.** *SEM micrographs, 500 X magnification, for pure PLA (a) and pure PBAT (b).*

#### **Figure 10.**

*Use of Gamma Radiation Techniques in Peaceful Applications*

**4.5 Attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy** 

FTIR spectra of PBAT/PLA blends and PBAT/PLA blends with 10phr of bio-CaCO3 and 5 phr of PLA gamma-radiated at 150 kGy are shown, respectively, in

*SEM micrographs of PLA/PBAT blends, 100 X magnification: (a) PBAT/PLA, 82/18; (b) PBAT/PLA, 65/35;* 

*DRX diffractograms of PBAT/PLA (50/50) and their compositions with 10 phr of CaCO3 and 5 phr of PLA* 

ric and antisymmetric stretching vibration of CH3 of saturated hydrocarbons were

, respectively [46, 47].

associated with the rocking vibration

associated with the ester (O-CH-CH3); the

associated with the stretching vibration of

associated with the CH symmetric bending vibration;

associated with the CH3 antisymmetric; the peak at

associated with the carbonyl C=O stretching vibration; and the symmet-

**148**

1748 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

**(ATR-FTIR)**

*(c) PBAT/PLA, 50/50.*

**Figure 8.**

**Figure 7.**

*gamma-radiated at 150 kGy.*

**Figures 12** and **13**.

For PLA, the peak at around 752 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

of α-methyl; peak at around 864 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

peak at around 1042, , and 1180 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

C-O-C; the peak at 1381 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

the peak at around 1450 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

found at 2943 and 2997 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

*SEM micrographs of foams, randomly chosen, with different magnifications: 150 (a), 35 (b), and 18 (c) X, respectively.*

#### **Figure 11.**

*Structural foams: (a) extruded foams from a 4 mm die extruder; (b) cylinder structural foams, of approximately 400 kg m<sup>−</sup><sup>3</sup> density.*

**Figure 12.** *FTIR spectra of PBAT/PLA blends.*

**Figure 13.** *FTIR of PBAT/PLA blends incorporated with c (10 phr of bio-CaCO3) and I (5 phr of PLA gamma-radiated at 150 kGy).*

Absorption spectral of PLA/PBAT blends showed the upshift of CH-plane of the benzene ring vibration from 725 to 729 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> . Ester vibration peak in PLA shifted from 864 to 872 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> [7]. There was however no clear evidence of interaction between PLA and PBAT in the blends.

#### **4.6 Tensile and elongation at break**

Tensile mechanical properties of PBAT/PLA blends and PBAT/PLA blends with 10 phr of bio-calcium carbonate and 5 phr of PLA gamma-radiated at 150 kGy are presented in **Figures 14** and **15**.

**151**

**Table 4.**

**Figure 14.**

**Figure 15.**

*150 kGy.*

**Blends and composites**

*Study of Bio-Based Foams Prepared from PBAT/PLA Reinforced with Bio-Calcium Carbonate…*

*PBAT/PLA blends, 82/18, 65/35, and 50/50 with 10 phr of bio-CaCO3 and 5 phr of PLA gamma-radiated at* 

PBAT50 9.0 242.0 112.6 PBAT65 6.0 250.0 93.1 PBAT82 5.0 265.0 215.0 PBAT50CI 12.0 235.01 116.2 PBAT65CI 7.0 244.0 126.9 PBAT82CI 8.0 249.0 138.5

**Elongation at break (%)**

**Elasticity modulus (MPa)**

**Tensile strength (MPa)**

*Tensile properties of PBAT/PLA blends and their composites.*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85462*

*Tensile mechanical properties for PBAT/PLA blends: 82/18, 65/35, and 50/50.*

*Study of Bio-Based Foams Prepared from PBAT/PLA Reinforced with Bio-Calcium Carbonate… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85462*

#### **Figure 14.**

*Use of Gamma Radiation Techniques in Peaceful Applications*

Absorption spectral of PLA/PBAT blends showed the upshift of CH-plane of the

*FTIR of PBAT/PLA blends incorporated with c (10 phr of bio-CaCO3) and I (5 phr of PLA gamma-radiated* 

Tensile mechanical properties of PBAT/PLA blends and PBAT/PLA blends with 10 phr of bio-calcium carbonate and 5 phr of PLA gamma-radiated at 150 kGy are

[7]. There was however no clear evidence of interaction

. Ester vibration peak in PLA shifted

benzene ring vibration from 725 to 729 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

between PLA and PBAT in the blends.

**4.6 Tensile and elongation at break**

presented in **Figures 14** and **15**.

from 864 to 872 cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

**Figure 13.**

*at 150 kGy).*

**Figure 12.**

*FTIR spectra of PBAT/PLA blends.*

**150**

*Tensile mechanical properties for PBAT/PLA blends: 82/18, 65/35, and 50/50.*

#### **Figure 15.**

*PBAT/PLA blends, 82/18, 65/35, and 50/50 with 10 phr of bio-CaCO3 and 5 phr of PLA gamma-radiated at 150 kGy.*


#### **Table 4.**

*Tensile properties of PBAT/PLA blends and their composites.*

In **Table 4** tensile properties presented in **Figures 14** and **15** are summarized.

From **Table 4**, PBAT/PLA 50/50 presented a higher value for tensile strength and PBAT/PLA 82/18 a higher value for elongation at break and elasticity modulus. PBAT/PLA compositions with bio-calcium carbonate and PLA gamma-radiated at 150 kGy presented results slightly higher than base compositions, following the same tendency.
