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Published on: April 24, 2018
Microbeam X-ray Reanalysis on Periodically Assembled Poly(β-Hydroxybutyric acid-Co-β-hydroxyvaleric acid) Tailored
Chun-Ning Wu1, Selvaraj Nagarajan1, Li-Ting Lee2
1Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1, University Road, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
Abstract:
Self-assembly of 3D interiors and iridescence properties of poly(β-hydroxybutyric acid-co-β-hydroxyvaleric acid) (PHBV) periodic crystals are examined using microcopy techniques and microbeam X-ray diffraction. Morphology of PHBV can be tailored by crystallizing in presence of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) or poly(trimethylene adipate) (PTA) for displaying desired periodicity patterns. The regular alternate-layered lamellae of banded PHBV crystal aggregates, resembling the structures the natural mineral moonstone or nacre, are examined to elaborate the origin of light interference and formation mechanisms of periodic lamellar aggregation of PHBV spherulites. By using PHBV as a convenient model and the crystal diffraction data, this continuing work demonstrates unique methodology for effectively studying the periodic assembly in widely varying polymers with similar aggregates. Grating structures in periodically assembled polymer crystals can be tailored for microstructure with orderly periodicity.
