Crystallization on films of PHB/PEG blends evaluation by DSC

Abstract

PHB polyester (poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) is an interesting biodegradable polymer and intensively investigated as cast and sheet films with applications in food industry or in medicine. The films obtained are typically brittle and many scientists have attempted to reduce this brittleness by blending with other polymers. PHB from Usina da Pedra was blended with PEG poly(ethyleneglycol) 300 resulting in blend 1 and blend 2. The two mixtures were melted at 200 and quenched at 0°C. TG curves showed that the thermal stability of the blends and the PHB are identical. For these blends the crystallization temperature decreased compared to the pure PHB, which is probably due to the lower nucleation density.