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Kinetics of crystallization of biodegradable PHA copolymers: a combined X-ray scattering and micro-indentation study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 March 2011

Maraolina Domínguez-Díaz
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico Av. Universidad s/n Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca Mor. 62210, MEXICO Centro de Investigación en Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, UAEM Av. Universidad s/n Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca Mor. 62210, MEXICO
Araceli Flores
Affiliation:
Instituto de Estructura de la Materia, C.S.I.C. Serrano 119, 28006 Madrid, SPAIN
Angel Romo-Uribe*
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico Av. Universidad s/n Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca Mor. 62210, MEXICO
Rodolfo Cruz-Silva
Affiliation:
Centro de Investigación en Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, UAEM Av. Universidad s/n Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca Mor. 62210, MEXICO
*
* To whom correspondence should be addressed: [email protected]
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Abstract

Wide Angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and indentation hardness have been used to study the development of crystallinity at room temperature of biodegradable poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and its copolymer with hydroxyvalerate (PHB/HV) containing 12% of valerate. Measurements were carried out immediately after quenching the samples from the molten state (200 ºC) in ice water and over two weeks of storage at room temperature. WAXS showed that the crystallization of the PHB-based polymers initiated within the first minutes of storage at room temperature, the copolymer displaying a higher rate of crystallization than the homopolymer. For all samples, the degree of crystallinity, α, nearly reached a plateau value within the first hour of crystallization. Concurrently to the development of crystallinity, microhardness values, H, clearly rose as crystallization occurred. Monitoring the crystallization for over two weeks showed that after the rapid increase of α and H, there was a slow monotonic growth of these properties. A correlation between nanostructure and microhardness is found at all stages of the crystallization process.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2011

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References

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