The Effect of Boron Nitride on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)

Abstract

The thermal and mechanical properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate, PHBV) composites filled with boron nitride (BN) particles with two different sizes and shapes were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and mechanical testing. The biocomposites were produced by melt extrusion of PHBV with untreated BN and surface-treated BN particles. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the thermal stability of the composites was higher than that of neat PHBV while the effect of the different shapes and sizes of the particles on the thermal stability was insignificant. DSC analysis showed that the crystallinity of the PHBV was not affected significantly by the change in filler concentration and the type of the BN nanoparticle but decreasing of the crystallinity of PHBV/BN composites was observed at higher loadings. BN particles treated with silane coupling agent yielded nanocomposites characterized by good mechanical performance. The results demonstrate that mechanical properties of the composites were found to increase more for the silanized flake type BN (OSFBN) compared to silanized hexagonal disk type BN (OSBN). The highest Young’s modulus was obtained for the nanocomposite sample containing 1 wt.% OSFBN, for which increase of Young’s modulus up to 19% was observed in comparison to the neat PHBV. The Halpin–Tsai and Hui–Shia models were used to evaluate the effect of reinforcement by BN particles on the elastic modulus of the composites. Micromechanical models for initial composite stiffness showed good correlation with experimental values.

Blends of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-co-3-Hydroxyvalerate) with Fruit Pulp Biowaste Derived Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-co-3-Hydroxyvalerate-co-3-Hydroxyhexanoate) for Organic Recycling Food Packaging

“…This finding suggests that a significant lower crystalline density of PHB crystals was produced in the blends with increasing the terpolymer content in excess of 10 mol%. The strongest peak observed in the neat PHBV and PHBV-containing blends at 2θ around 27° is attributed to the boron nitride used as a nucleating agent in commercial formulations [ 72 ], which was not observed in the food waste derived P(3HB- co -3HV- co -3HHx). In any case, the lower relative intensity of the peaks with respect to the amorphous halo suggests a lower crystallinity in the terpolymer than in the neat PHBV, which agrees with the DSC measurements shown above.…”

In vivo and Post-synthesis Strategies to Enhance the Properties of PHB-Based Materials: A Review

“…Anyway, in order to enhance the physical interaction occurring between PHBV and BNPs, thus assuring a stable dispersion of BNPs, the same authors used a silane coupling agent, octyltriethoxysilane (OTES), to modify the surface of boron nitride. In their research, Öner et al ( 2019 ) included different amounts of BNPs with different crystalline silane surfaces in PHBV, via melt compounding, and investigated their effects on the barrier properties of PHBV nanocomposites. For all the nanocomposites, the oxygen permeability decreased in comparison to the neat PHBV due to the presence of both BN nanoparticles and silane coupling agent.…”

Oxygen Barrier and Thermomechanical Properties of Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) Biocomposites Reinforced with Calcium Carbonate Particles

“…32 cm −1 , CH 2 wagging at 1320-1159 cm −1 , asymmetrical -C-O-C-stretching, symmetrical -C-O-C-stretching at 800-975 cm −1 , CH 2 scissoring at 1453-1459 cm −1 , C-O stretching at 1065-1030 cm −1 and C-C stretching at 979-980 cm −1 , respectively. 33 Calcite and vaterite exhibit main characteristic peaks as 712 cm -1 and 745 cm -1 , respectively. 18 While the peaks at ~1420 and ~874 cm -1 indicate the presence of calcite, the peak at ~1070 cm -1 shows the presence of vaterite.…”