A Degradation Study of Poly(3‐Hydroxybutyrate‐Co‐3‐Hydroxyvalerate) and Olive Husk Flour Biocomposites Under Marine Environment

Abstract

AbstractIn this work, the main objective is to investigate the effect of olive husk flour (OHF) used as a biofiller on the marine degradation of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) biocomposites up to 6 months of immersion in sea water at 25°C and 40°C. Film samples based on neat PHBV and PHBV are filled with 20 wt.% OHF is prepared by melt compounding. After 6 months of immersion in sea water, the study reveals a noticeable decrease in the absorption band intensity of ester groups of PHBV through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR‐ATR) spectroscopy, even more in the presence of OHF in PHBV biocomposite due to hydrolytic degradation. This phenomenon is, however, more pronounced at 40°C. This also agrees with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data, which indicates a large increase in crystallinity index (Xc) resulting from short chains reorganization. Moreover, scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis shows for both degraded samples, eroded and cracked surfaces, being however more pronounced for PHBV/OHF biocomposite at 40°C. This study highlights the role of OHF as a promotor of marine degradation of PHBV.