Crystallization kinetics of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)/ cellulose nanowhiskers composites

Elena Ten, Long Jiang, Michael P. Wolcott

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

79 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this study, biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) films with 1.2-4.6 wt% of cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs) were manufactured by solution casting using N,N-dimethylformide (DMF) as the solvent. Crystallization behaviors of PHBV/CNW composites were studied under isothermal conditions using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy (POM). The changes in PHBV crystalline structure were studied using wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). Avrami analysis was performed to study the effects of CNW concentration and temperature on the crystallization rate and crystallinity of PHBV. POM study confirmed the results from the Avrami analysis. In particular, the results revealed the dual effects (i.e., nucleation and confinement) of CNWs on PHBV nucleation. Depending on the concentration of CNWs, the crystallization rate of PHBV could be either increased or decreased due to the combined effects. High crystallization temperatures increased the diffusion rate of PHBV chains and the growth rate of PHBV spherulites. However, the nucleation effect of CNWs decreased at high crystallization temperatures.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)541-550
Number of pages10
JournalCarbohydrate Polymers
Volume90
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Organic Chemistry
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Materials Chemistry

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