Abstract
Reduced graphene oxide-zinc oxide composite (rGO-ZnO) was incorporated at 0.2 mass% content in immiscible 1:1 poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)/poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) blends by melt extrusion. Using the same conditions, samples of PHBV, EVA, the neat blend and plasticized hybrids were also obtained. The effect of rGO-ZnO and the plasticizers, acetyl tert-butyl citrate (ATBC) and ionic 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (bmim+PF6ˉ), on the properties of the hybrid materials were evaluated. X-ray diffraction results indicated that rGO-ZnO and the plasticizers affected the materials crystallinity. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that rGO-ZnO influenced the melt and cold crystallization, functioning as heterogeneous nucleating agent for PHBV. Dynamic mechanical analyses revealed improved compatibilization by adding ATBC to the hybrid blend. This result was corroborated by the higher ductility observed for ATBC-plasticized hybrids, in relation to the hybrids plasticized by bmim+PF6ˉ. Using bmim+PF6ˉ as the plasticizer led to hybrid materials with significantly better oxygen barrier properties, similar to polyethylene.
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