Journal
POLYMER DEGRADATION AND STABILITY
Volume 94, Issue 5, Pages 789-796Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2009.01.027
Keywords
Ammonium surfactants; Biopolymers; Polyhydroxyalkanoates; Renewable resources; Thermal degradation
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Ammonium surfactants are commonly used as clay organomodifiers; in nanocomposites. Their effect on the thermal- and thermo-mechanical degradation of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) is reported. Two poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) grades were tested and compared to polyhydroxylbutyrate (PHB). Thermal stabilities were determined from thermogravimetric data and determination of molecular weight changes after processing was performed. The data revealed that all surfactants; enhance the PHBV degradation. The results also highlight the preponderant effect of the initial M. rather than the HV content on the thermal stability. The thermo-mechanical study confirmed the role of surfactants and their different behaviour towards PHBV degradation. This study demonstrates that all surfactants enhance the PHA degradation since their decomposition products most likely act as catalytic agents. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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