Effect of Oligo-Hydroxyalkanoates on Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-<i>co</i>-4-Hydroxybutyrate)-Based Systems

Abstract

This study presents the utilization of oligo-hydroxyalkanoates obtained from controlled degradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) as additives in a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) copolymer matrix (P(3HB-co-4HB)). These oligomers are compared to a conventional biobased plasticizer, used as reference, based on a monoglyceride acetate obtained from hydrogenated castor oil. Different multiphase systems are elaborated with these additives and characterized. Thermal and mechanical properties demonstrate that the monoglyceride acetate is as an efficient plasticizer increasing the elongation of the P(3HB-co-4HB) films while decreasing their maximum strength and elastic modulus. On the contrary, the addition of oligo-PHB results in an increased crystallinity of the matrix, thus improving the maximum strength and elastic modulus of the corresponding films. The oligomers act as an efficient reinforcing agent. Mobility brought by the oligomers induces a rearrangement of the P(3HB-co-4HB) with an increase of the chain rearrangement. Interestingly, the simultaneous addition of both additives results in significantly reduced Tg and improved elongation at break, as expected from an efficient plasticizer, but it also leads to P(3HB-co-4HB) films retaining relatively high strength and modulus values, thanks to the reinforcement ability of the oligo-PHB additive. Thermal characterization finally demonstrated that such mixed additives system results in greatly improved thermal stability of the polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer matrix.