Thermal and mechanical properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)/cellulose nanowhiskers composites

Elena Ten, Joel Turtle, David Bahr, Long Jiang, Michael Wolcott

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

212 Scopus citations

Abstract

Bacterial polyester poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-. co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) was reinforced with cellulose nanowhiskers (CNW) in 1-5. wt.% concentrations using a solvent casting method. The CNW was prepared from microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) using sulfuric acid hydrolysis. The influence of CNW on the PHBV crystallization, thermal, dynamic mechanical and mechanical properties were evaluated using polarized optical microscope (POM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), tensile and bulge tests, respectively. POM test results demonstrated that CNW was an effective PHBV nucleation agent. Tensile strength, Young's modulus and toughness of PHBV increased with the increasing concentration of CNW. DMA results showed an increased tan δ peak temperature and broadened transition peak, indicating restrained PHBV molecular mobility in the vicinity of the CNW surface. Storage modulus of the PHBV also increased with the addition of CNW, especially at the temperatures higher than the PHBV glass transition temperature. These results indicated that the CNW could substantially increase the mechanical properties of PHBV and this increase could be attributed to the strong interactions between these two phases.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2652-2660
Number of pages9
JournalPolymer
Volume51
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2010

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Organic Chemistry
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Materials Chemistry

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