Multi-scale instrumental analyses of plasticized polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) blended with polycaprolactone (PCL) and the effects of crosslinkers and graft copolymers

Abstract

Multi-scale instrumental analyses showed that the crosslinker changed the morphology to homogenous while the graft polymer increased molecular mobility.

Blends of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-co-3-Hydroxyvalerate) with Fruit Pulp Biowaste Derived Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-co-3-Hydroxyvalerate-co-3-Hydroxyhexanoate) for Organic Recycling Food Packaging

“…Blending by melt mixing with additives and fillers has also demonstrated to be a convenient approach to improve the properties of PHAs. Thus, it is common to use mixtures with different commercial biopolymers [ 36 , 37 ], waste derived fillers [ 38 , 39 ] or a combination of both [ 40 , 41 ], which increase some of the final properties such as thermal, mechanical or barrier. These properties can be modified depending on the polymers and the ratios used in the blends [ 42 ].…”

Variable temperature solid-state NMR spectral and relaxation analyses of the impregnation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) into coniferous wood

“…The 1 H signal line shape in 1 H MAS NMR depends on the molecular motions involved in T 2 relaxation, and has been used for biodegradable polymer. 25 As a part of the study of the effects of various molecular weight polyethylene glycols (PEGs) on solid-state NMR spectra of cypress, state changes around the melting point were investigated by 1 H MAS NMR spectral analysis. In addition, the interactions of each type of PEG molecule with biomass constituents were examined by comparison of 1 H MAS NMR spectra between the PEGimpregnated cypress and PEG molecules in pure form.…”

“…We have already studied the crystallinity and molecular mobility of biomass-based polymers using a combination of 13 C CP-MAS NMR and 13 C PST-MAS NMR methods. 25 The former is commonly used method for biomass-based polymers as well as petroleum-derived polymers; it enhances the signals from rigid These carbohydrate signals increased and sharpened again on cooling, and the 13 C CP-MAS signals aer the variable temperature measurements were smaller compared with those before heating. The reduction and widening of 13 C CP-MAS signals was caused by the release of water molecules from cypress which reduced the enhancement of the efficiency of the 1 H-13 C magnetization transfer.…”

“…This multi-scale approach was used to study the nanostructures of plant materials 23,24 as well as the compatibility of biomassbased polymer blends. 25 Meanwhile, concerning the molecular mobility of biomass constituents in woody materials, we also investigated the use of integrated analysis of solid-state NMR spectra and nuclear magnetic relaxation times for studying chemical modications of cypress. 26 In the present study, the behaviours of various sizes of PEG molecules and their interactions with biomass constituents were examined by analysing correlations of data from several variable-temperature solid-state NMR methods, based on the knowledge obtained from previous multi-scale instrumental analyses and integrated NMR analyses.…”

Effects of the shapes and addition amounts of crosslinking reagents on the properties of poly‐3‐hydroxybutyrate/poly(caprolactone) blends

“…20 In addition, the multi-scale instrumental analysis has been applied to investigate the change in the morphology of plasticized PHA/PCL blends treated with two types of crosslinking reagents, as well as with two types of graft copolymers, by examining the results of the static and dynamic tensile test. 21 The multi-scale instrumental analysis of PHB/PCL blend revealed that the addition of a crosslinking reagent significantly improved the morphology of the blend from a bicontinuous morphology to a homogenous morphology, thus improving the tensile properties of the blend. 22 Although the crosslinking reagent effectively improved the tensile properties of 60% PHB/40% PCL blend in particular, the effect of the crosslinking reagent on the toughness of 80%PHB/20%PCL and 30%PHB/70%PCL blends has not been clarified.…”