Environmentally friendly PP/PHB Blends

• Grant number: 08/04123-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: October 01, 2008
• End date: July 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Nicole Raymonde Demarquette
• Grantee: Roberta Kalil Sadi
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Although biodegradable polymers are attractive to substitute conventional plastics, they present unsatisfactory mechanical properties, which in combination with their high cost and high subjectivity to thermal degradation prevent their extensive use in the plastic industry. In this work polymer blends of biodegradable polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) with conventional polypropylene (PP) compatibilized or not are developed in order to obtain a material with improved processability and mechanical properties with possible biodegradable characteristics. Two types of polypropylene are used: an homopolymer (PPhomo) and a copolymer poly(propylene-co-ethylene) (PPcopo). The mechanical and morphological properties of the blends and their behavior when exposed to photo and biodegradative environments are studied. The objective of the photodegradation is to accelerate further biodegradation of the materials. The photodegradation of PHB and PPcopo are studied individually. This Direct Doctoral project is a continuation of a Master work.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

SADI, Roberta Kalil. Compatibilization and degradation study of Polypropylene/Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PP/PHB) blends.. 2010. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Politécnica (EP/BC) São Paulo.