Abstract
Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hexanoate) (PHBH) is a biodegradable thermoplastic polyester with the potential to be used in textile and medical applications. We have aimed at developing an upscalable melt-spinning method to produce fine biodegradable PHBH filaments without the use of an ice water bath or offline drawing techniques. We have evaluated the effect of different polymer grades (mol% 3-hydroxy hexanoate, molecular weight etc.) and production parameters on the tensile properties of melt-spun filaments. PHBH monofilaments (diameter < 130 µm) have been successfully melt-spun and online drawn from three different polymer grades. We report thermal and rheological properties of the polymer grades as well as morphological, thermal, mechanical, and structural properties of the melt-spun filaments thereof. Tensile strengths up to 291 MPa have been achieved. Differences in tensile performance have been correlated to structural differences with wide-angle X-ray diffraction and small-angle X-ray scattering. The measurements obtained have revealed that a synergetic interaction of a highly oriented non-crystalline mesophase with highly oriented α-crystals leads to increased tensile strength. Additionally, the effect of aging on the structure and tensile performance has been investigated.
Highlights
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have attracted great interest because of their processability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability
We have evaluated the effect of different polymer grades and production parameters on the tensile properties of melt-spun filaments
The melt temperatures measured in the spin pack ranged between 150 and 166 ◦C, and the circular monofilament die had a diameter of 0.5 mm and a capillary length to diameter (L/D) ratio of 4
Summary
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have attracted great interest because of their processability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrateco-3-hydroxyhexanoate) is typically abbreviated as P(3HB-co-3HH) or PHBH and is produced by microorganisms under fermentation conditions using plant oils This environment-friendly polymer shows biodegradability under aerobic, anaerobic, aquatic, and compost conditions without any toxic residual [3,4]. Wide-angle X-ray tion (WAXD) measurements have revealed that the PHBH fibers with high strength had a high contribution of mesophase, which gave rise to a broad refle the equator in WAXD patterns [7,25] This mesophase exists in highly draw fibers [26,27,28,29], and its exact structure has been a matter of debate. The effect of aging (storage for 33 months) on the tensile properties, as well as on the fiber structure, has been investigated
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