Bionanocomposites of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) with cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were processed by extrusion. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that with increasing the amount of CNC the overall crystallization time was reduced. Wide angle X -ray scattering (WAXS) showed diffraction peaks of orthorhombic a-type crystalline structure and confirmed the nucleating agent effect of CNC particles in the PHBV matrix. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) showed that the reducing rate of long spacing was slower in the filled sample than in PHBV. Microscopy images (Scanning Electron Microscopy, SEM, and Transmission Electron Microscopy, TEM) revealed well-dispersed morphology in low loading of the filler while slight agglomerations appeared at higher filler concentration. Statistical analysis was done by applying a one-way ANOVA (a 5 0.05) to evaluate the effect of filler on mechanical properties of PHBV. Water vapor, oxygen and carbon dioxide transmission rate showed that the incorporation of CNC nanocrystals led to an improvement in the barrier properties of the bionanocomposites due to higher crystallinity and more tortuosity in their morphologies. POLYM. COMPOS., 00:000-000, 2017.
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