. Preparation and characterization of biodegradable nonwovens
PCL, PBAT, nonwovens, permeability
Biodegradable nonwovens based on Polycaprolactone (PCL) and poly (butylene adipate-co-terephtalate) (PBAT) were prepared by solution casting technique in Chloroform. Nonwovens were obtained in the proportions of 20:80, 15:85 and 10:90 polymer and solvent. Non-solvent addition films were also formed: distilled water. The films were characterized by SEM, XRD, FTIR, Wettability, TG and DSC Thermal Analysis and Steam Permeation. Crystallographic peaks from both polymers were found and in the solutions containing the non-solvent it was also noted that the peak`s intensity were low. From FTIR, the bands corresponding to C-H, C=O, CH2 e C-O for PBAT and C-H, C=O, CH2, C-O, C-C e COC for PCL were identified. From SEM a dense morphology was visualized for the films obtained only with polymer. There was no major change in the morphology of the films with the presence of the non-solvent, in which the addition form and its dissolution time did not cause considerable modifications in the film morphology. By wettability tests was observed that the non-solvent has influence on the contact angle. Through Thermal Analysis, it was observed that the film, after processing, does not have significant traces of the solvent used, and it is possible to observe that the PCL has a lower thermal stability in relation to the PBAT. Besides, the addition of distilled water in the films did not cause significant changes in the thermal characteristics of the material. In relation to water vapor permeation, it can be said that for hydrophobic polymers, the results were satisfactory, indicating that they may be used in drug permeation. Therefore, biodegradable nonwoves were obtained and analysed