Ductile poly[(3-hydroxybutyrate)-co-(4-hydroxybutyrate)]-based blends derived from biomass

Poly[(3-hydroxybutyrate)- co -(4-hydroxybutyrate)] (P34HB), poly[(butylene succinate)- co -(butylene furandicarboxylate)] (PBSF) and poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) were melt-blended to prepare P34HB/PBSF/PVAc blends with improved ductility. The thermal properties, mechanical properties, rheological properties and morphology of the blends were systematically studied. The addition of PBSF promoted the melt crystallization of P34HB. The temperatures at 5% weight loss of the blends were higher than that of P34HB. The surface of the blends was investigated using scanning electron microscopy. The surface of P34HB was very smooth, but the surfaces of the blends were rough. PVAc can increase the compatibility between P34HB and PBSF. Compared with P34HB, the elongation at break of the blends was increased to 219.1%. © 2024 Society of Industrial Chemistry.