Abstract
Blends of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) with 12 mol% hydroxyvalerate (HV) content and epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) with 50 mol% epoxidation level were studied along with the thermal properties and morphologies. Glass transition temperatures reveal immiscibility of the polymers over the entire composition range. The equilibrium melting point (Tm0) of PHBV in blends was determined applying Hoffman–Weeks step-wise annealing procedure. There is no significant variation of Tm0 for PHBV with blend composition. Also the crystallinity of PHBV stays approximately constant in the blends, only a slight decrease might be recognized with increasing ENR content. The rate of crystallization of PHBV decreases with PHBV content according to a power law. Morphological studies by polarizing optical microscopy reveal a fine intraspherulitic dispersion of ENR in volume-filling PHBV spherulites, which develop during isothermal crystallization.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
