Thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate)/cellulose acetate butyrate blends as a function of 4HB and CAB content
摘要
This study investigates the thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties of biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB-co-4HB)] blends with cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), focusing on the influence of both 4HB molar content (0–36.1 mol%) and CAB loading (0–60 wt%). DSC results revealed that increasing CAB content suppresses crystallization and melting transitions, while raising the glass transition temperature, indicating partial miscibility and reduced crystallinity. Mechanical analysis showed a clear phase inversion near 40 wt% CAB, characterized by a transition from a P(3HB-co-4HB)-rich to a CAB-rich morphology, resulting in enhanced tensile strength and modulus but significantly reduced elongation. Rheological evaluation further confirmed this morphological transition through a sharp increase in zero-shear viscosity at high CAB content.
Graphical abstract