Miscibility, crystallization, and mechanical properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate)/ poly(butylene succinate) blends

Naturally amorphous biopolyester poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4- hydroxybutyrate) (P3/4HB) containing 21 mol % of 4HB was blended with semi-crystal poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) with an aim to improve the properties of aliphatic polyesters. The effect of PBS contents on miscibility, thermal properties, crystallization kinetics, and mechanical property of the blends was evaluated by DSC, TGA, FTIR, wide-angle X-ray diffractometer (WAXD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and universal material testing machine. The thermal stability of P3/4HB was enhanced by blending with PBS. When PBS content is less than 30 wt %, the two polymers show better miscibility and their crystallization trend was enhanced by each other. The optimum mechanical properties were observed at the 5-10 wt % PBS blends. However, when the PBS content is more than 30 wt %, phase inversion happened. And the two polymers give lower miscibility and poor mechanical properties.