Improvement of Mechanical Ductile Properties of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) by Using Vegetable Oil Derivatives

Abstract

Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate), P3HB is a thermoplastic polyester synthesized from bacterial fermentation with potential uses in packaging due to its biodegradability. Nevertheless, P3HB is a fragile material and its processing temperature window is very narrow which restricts its use. This study explores the potential of vegetable oil‐derived plasticizers, i.e., maleinized linseed oil (MLO) and an epoxidized fatty acid ester (EFAE) in the 5–20 phr range as environmentally friendly solutions for P3HB industrial formulations with improved toughness. The results show that optimum balance between ductile properties is achieved with low plasticizer content (5 phr) for both plasticizer types. Elongation at break and the impact resistance are increased by 28 and 71% respectively after addition of 5 phr MLO. With regard to EFAE, the elongation at break is improved by 40% and the impact resistance is increased to twice the value of P3HB. Another effect that both plasticizers provide is the thermal stabilization with a delay in the onset degradation temperature.

Manufacturing and compatibilization of PLA/PBAT binary blends by cottonseed oil-based derivatives

“…The PLA/ PBAT blend compatibilized with 1 wt% ECSO (Figure 4d) shows a smooth fracture surface similar to that of the PLA/PBAT blend and some small spherical domains can be detected, while PLA/PBAT blends compatibilized with Joncryl ® or MCSO show presence of cavities/voids and filaments in the longitudinal (extrusion) direction. Phase separation has been reported for vegetable oil-derived additives over 5 wt% as small spherical domains due to excess plasticizer/ compatibilizer [45]. Nevertheless the PLA/PBAT system shows a heterogeneous fracture surface, even for the ECSO-and MCSO-compatibilized blends with 7.5 wt% compatibilizer (Figure 4f and 4g) which suggests phase separation as well.…”

On the use of acrylated epoxidized soybean oil as a reactive compatibilizer in injection‐molded compostable pieces consisting of polylactide filled with orange peel flour

“…These multi‐functionalized vegetable oils present the dual advantages of being derived from natural resources and of acting as plasticizers due to their intrinsic lubricant effect on polymer matrices . This is of great interest from an environmental point of view since they allow one to obtain totally ecofriendly and fully bio‐based polymer formulations with improved toughness . In this regard, chemically modified oils, such as maleinized linseed oil or epoxidized soybean oil, have been recently used to increase the filler–matrix compatibility in PLA‐based composites with very promising results.…”

Enhancement of paperboard performance as packaging material by layering with plasticized polyhydroxybutyrate/nanocellulose coatings

“…At the same time, PHB could protect paper or paperboard against moisture, obtaining a biodegradable and low cost composite . However, a plasticizer might be necessary in order to realize PHB polymeric films with adequate deformability: plasticizer molecules arrange themselves between the polymer chains such that the intermolecular bonds are disrupted, hence giving films with less stiffness …”

“…14,15 However, a plasticizer might be necessary in order to realize PHB polymeric films with adequate deformability: plasticizer molecules arrange themselves between the polymer chains such that the intermolecular bonds are disrupted, hence giving films with less stiffness. 4,16 An emerging field deals with renewable nanofillers from cellulose. 17 Fillers in this context refer to a variety of nanosized structures whose function is not only to fill the matrix but also to provide enhancement in properties such as barrier, optical, thermal, and mechanical.…”