Polyolefins/Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐hydroxyvalerate) blends compatibilization: Morphology, rheological, and mechanical properties

Abstract

Polypropylene/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) blend (PHBV) and polyethylene/PHBV blend were prepared by twin screw extruder using preformed copolymer (EVOH-g-PHBV) as compatibilizer or with functional polyolefins that can react in situ with the PHBV phase to form POs-g-PHBV. Scanning electron microscopy shows that by using either EVOH-g-PHBV preformed copolymer or formed copolymers in situ both emulsify the phase interface and reduce the interfacial tension, which result in an enhancement on the mechanical properties of compatibilized blends. Enhancement is more or less pronounced depending on the used PO matrix.

Solvent-free preparation, characterization, and properties of SEBS–g–polycarbonate copolymers

“…[5] The first one is the addition of a graft or block copolymer. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12] To form a graft copolymer, two strategies exist, the grafting from between polymers [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] and the grafting onto, [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] with a polymer bearing an initiating function previously induced by ozonolysis or irradiation. [30,31] A coupling reaction through a function can also be used to generate specific functions onto a polymer chain moiety to then start a grafting from or a grafting onto.…”

“…[32,33] A third attractive strategy, by a continuous process, consists to synthesize, in situ, a block or graft copolymer at the interface between the immiscible polymers. [24,[34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46] Reactive extrusion can then be used with the advantage to combine simultaneously both the blending and the chemical reaction with short residence times. These reactions often happen between two functional groups located at the end of the polymer chains.…”

Structural characteristics and enhanced mechanical and thermal properties of full biodegradable tea polyphenol/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) composite films

“…The introduction of nanoparticles is helpful for improving the physical properties and processing properties of PHBV through increasing the nucleation density and decreasing the spherulite size. In petrochemical-based materials/PHBV composites, the additive components consist mainly of non-biodegradable polyolefin [12] Abstract. Full biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) composite films were prepared with 5~40 wt% green tea polyphenol (TP) as toughener.…”

“…These blending composites can improve physical properties by some extent and reduce the cost, but also there are some problems in compatibility. So Sadik improved the interfacial and mechanical properties of the immiscible PP/PHBV and PE/PHBV blends by preformed copolymer EVOH-g-PHBV [12]. In biobased materials/PHBV composites, thermoplastic starch, cellulose, polycaprolactone [15], xylogen [16], polylactic acid [17], PBAT [18] and poly (butylenes succinate) [19] are widely applied to fully biodegradable products [20,21].…”

Thermally stable low‐density polyethylene/polyhydroxybutyrate pairs: Synergy between organomodified nanoclay and LDPE‐g‐MAH

“…Thermal degradation begins just above its melting point via a non‐radical random chain secession ( cis ‐elimination) process, and this thermal sensitivity limits its widespread use. The other drawback is its immiscibility with most other thermoplastic polymers which limits applications …”