Poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate)

Properties and Applications

Poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) (PBSA) is a biodegradable, semi-crystalline polyester produced by co-condensation of succinic and adipate acid with 1-4-butanediol. All three building blocks1 can be produced either from renewable feedstock such as glucose and sucrose via fermentation or from petroleum-based feesstock.
PBSA is a very attractive biopolymer because its mechanical properties and service temperatures are comparable with those of widely used polyolefins.2 In comparison with polylactic acid (PLA), one of the most widely used biopolymers, it is much more flexible and therefore, does not require plasticizers. It also has a lower melting point (112°C vs ~160°C) and thus is easier to process than PLA.

PBSA is one of the newer biopolymers and could be a cost-effective alternative to other biopolymers such as PLA, PBAT, and PHB. Possible applications include food packaging, mulch film, plant pots, hygiene products, fishing nets and fishing lines. It can be used as a matrix polymer or in combination with other bioolymers such as polylactic acid (PLA).

Manufacturers & Distributors

Brand Names

1In 2016, the italian biochemical company Novamont and its California based partner Genomatica opened the world’s first industrial scale plant for the production butanediol via fermentation of renewable raw materials. The new plant will produce 30,000 tonnes/year of low-impact biobased-butanedio. Source: Novamont News & Media, September 2016
2PBSA is more prone to thermo-oxidative and UV degradation than polyolefins, which eventually leads to poor physical and mechanical properties.
3Succinity is a joint venture of BASF and Corbion.