Regulating the Crystallization Kinetics of Poly(ethylene succinate) via Hexahydric Alcohols: Roles of myo-Inositol and Dipentaerythritol

The sluggish crystallization kinetics of poly(ethylene succinate) (PES), a biodegradable aliphatic polyester with promising mechanical properties, severely restricts its industrial processing and application. To address this limitation, this study introduces two bio-derived hexahydric alcohols, myo -inositol (MIS) and dipentaerythritol (DPE), as nucleating agents to regulate PES crystallization. Non-isothermal and isothermal differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy, and wide angle X-ray diffraction analyses reveal that both MIS and DPE significantly enhance nucleation density and crystallization rates via epitaxial templating and hydrogen-bonding interactions. DPE outperforms MIS, achieving 19.1 °C increase in crystallization temperature and 28% improvement in relative crystallinity at 2 wt% loading, attributed to its superior epitaxial surface provision and stronger intermolecular interactions for PES chains. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy further confirms the plasticizing effect of these agents, which reduces rigid amorphous fractions and enhances chain mobility. The synergistic mechanism combines heterogeneous epitaxial nucleation and chain lubrication, enabling accelerated crystallization kinetics without compromising biodegradability. This work provides a sustainable strategy to optimize PES processing efficiency and performance, advancing its potential as a viable alternative to conventional thermoplastics.