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Morphology and properties of renewable poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐ co ‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) blends with thermoplastic polyurethane
Author(s) -
Wang Shichao,
Xiang Hengxue,
Wang Renlin,
Peng Cheng,
Zhou Zhe,
Zhu Meifang
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.23655
Subject(s) - materials science , thermoplastic polyurethane , composite material , crystallinity , differential scanning calorimetry , nucleation , toughness , composite number , polyurethane , morphology (biology) , thermoplastic elastomer , scanning electron microscope , elastomer , polymer , copolymer , thermodynamics , chemistry , physics , genetics , organic chemistry , biology
Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐ co ‐3‐hydroxyvalerate)/thermoplastic polyurethane (PHBV/TPU) composites were prepared by solution blending combined with melt processing in an effort to improve the toughness of PHBV and overcome the coalescence phenomena of TPU at the same time. The compatibility, cross‐section morphology, crystal structure, thermal behaviour, and mechanical properties of composites were investigated. Field emission scanning electron microscopy results showed that no distinct interface was found in composites, uniformly dispersed PHBV/TPU composites were obtained. The incorporation of TPU did not change the basic crystalline structure of PHBV, but decreased its crystallinity. What's more, the integrity of PHBV spherulites structure was destroyed and the radial growth rate of spherulites was inhibited. Differential scanning calorimetry results analyzed by Jeziorny method indicated that the nucleation mode of composites did not change. Besides, when TPU content was up to 40 wt%, the initial degradation temperature of PHBV/TPU composite was increased by 5°C, and the elongation‐at‐break was increased by 225% compared with those of PHBV. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:1113–1119, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers