Characterization of Polyhydroxybutyrate-Based Composites Prepared by Injection Molding

Abstract

The waste generated by single-use plastics is often non-recyclable and non-biodegradable, inevitably ending up in our landfills, ecosystems, and food chain. Through the introduction of biodegradable polymers as substitutes for common plastics, we can decrease our impact on the planet. In this study, we evaluate the changes in mechanical and thermal properties of polyhydroxybutyrate-based composites with various additives: Microspheres, carbon fibers or polyethylene glycol (2000, 10,000, and 20,000 MW). The mixtures were injection molded using an in-house mold attached to a commercial extruder. The resulting samples were characterized using microscopy and a series of spectroscopic, thermal, and mechanical techniques. We have shown that the addition of carbon fibers and microspheres had minimal impact on thermal stability, whereas polyethylene glycol showed slight improvements at higher molecular weights. All of the composite samples showed a decrease in hardness and compressibility. The findings described in this study will improve our understanding of polyhydroxybutyrate-based composites prepared by injection molding, enabling advancements in integrating biodegradable plastics into everyday products.

Carbon Fiber/PLA Recycled Composite

“…As a result, waste generation has increased during the last century. The generation of waste is not only a challenge for humanity but also a major issue for the stability of the whole ecosystem [ 1 ]. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to work on environmental solutions to the problem of collecting and increasing waste of polymeric materials to protect the earth’s natural resources and to develop a sustainable society.…”

The 3D Printability and Mechanical Properties of Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) as Additives in Urethane Dimethacrylate (UDMA) Blends Polymer for Medical Application

“…In recent decades, a wide range of biopolymers has stimulated researchers’ interest to explore and utilize their benefits to create a sustainable material for the sake of environmental issues. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are those among biopolymers that can act as an alternative to the synthetic polymers derived from petrochemicals [ 1 ]. PHA are biopolymers that are naturally derived and accumulated by different families of microorganisms such as Azotobacter, Bacillus and Pseudomonas [ 2 , 3 , 4 ].…”

Polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs): an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based plastics for diminution of their detrimental effects on the environment

“…(Das et al,2021) Only 26% of the 33 billion tonnes of plastics manufactured globally are expected to have been recycled by 2050, according to the latest estimates. (Hernandez et al, 2021) The total amount of production in 2019 was around 360 million tones. (Ryan 2015) Since many polymers are derived from crude oil, the rising demand for plastics not only increases oil consumption, placing additional stress on depleting reserves but also pollutes the environment during disposal (more than 302 million tonnes of plastic were wasted in 2017) due to the typically challenging and drawn-out process of degradation of these materials and their composites.…”

“…(Schlebrowski et al, 2021) The creation of fully biodegradable plastics and the switch to them is critical to minimize the increasing pollution brought on by our usage of plastics. (Hernandez et al, 2021) Due to society's and governments' concern for the environment, the use of biopolymers as environmentally benign materials to replace conventional polymers has garnered attention. Polyhydroxybutyrate's (PHB) ability to biodegrade makes it a superior option for substituting petroleum-based polymers.…”