Miscibility and crystallization of biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate)/poly(vinyl phenol) blends

Miscibility and crystallization of biodegradable poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx)/poly(vinyl phenol) (PVPh) blends were investigated in this work. PHBHHx is miscible with PVPh over the whole composition range as evidenced by the single composition dependent glass transition temperature and the depression of equilibrium melting point of PHBHHx in the blends. The overall crystallization rates decrease with increasing crystallization temperature for both neat PHBHHx and its blends with PVPh; moreover, the overall crystallization rates are slower in the PHBHHx/PVPh blends than in neat PHBHHx at the same crystallization temperature. Blending with PVPh may change the crystallization mechanism of PHBHHx in the blends compared with that of neat PHBHHx. Both neat PHBHHx and the PHBHHx/PVPh blends exhibit a crystallization regime II to III transition. The crystal structure of PHBHHx is not modified in the PHBHHx/PVPh blends; however, the values of crystal layer thickness, amorphous layer thickness, and long period all become larger with increasing PVPh content in the blends. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. (C) 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers