Modification of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate) with a Linear Polyurethane Modifier and Organic Nanofiller-Preparation and...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Growing demand for polypropylene (PP) products creates non-biodegradable waste and environmental concerns.
• Synthetic polymers rely on non-renewable petrochemical feedstocks, causing environmental degradation.
• Biopolymers, like poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB), offer sustainable alternatives with properties comparable to PP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop hybrid polymer nanobiocomposites based on P3HB.
• To enhance P3HB's processing and operational properties through the addition of polyurethane (PU) and Cloisite®30B.
• To investigate the compatibility, morphology, and mechanical properties of the resulting nanobiocomposites.

Main Methods:

• Extrusion process to produce hybrid nanobiocomposites.
• Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) for component interaction analysis.
• Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) for nano- and microscale structure.
• Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for morphology.
• Determination of hardness and tensile strength.

Main Results:

• Introduction of PU and Cloisite®30B beneficially influenced processing, reducing extrusion temperature by over 10 °C.
• FTIR confirmed compatibility between P3HB, PU, and Cloisite®30B, with optimal compatibility at 3% Cloisite30B.
• PU addition elasticized the material but decreased strength and ductility.
• Nanoclay addition enhanced the mechanical properties of the nanobiocomposites.

Conclusions:

• Developed P3HB-based nanobiocomposites with improved processing and mechanical characteristics.
• The combination of PU and Cloisite®30B offers a viable route to tailor P3HB properties.
• These nanobiocomposites show potential for short-life applications in gardening and agriculture.