| Popis: |
Biodegradable polymers, especially bacterial synthesized polymers, have gained great attention and interest due to the concerns raised regarding the accumulation of petrochemical plastic wastes in the environment. It is known that biodegradable polymers have advantages such as being biocompatible, biodegradable, natural, renewable and have similar mechanical properties compared to conventional polymers. Poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHBs) are biodegradable polyesters produced naturally by bacteria. PHBs are highly crystalline polyester, which are brittle and prone to thermal degradation during processing. In the past, attempts have been made to reduce the degree of the brittleness of the PHB by copolymerization with hydroxyhexanoate (HHx) or hydroxyvalerate (HVx) co-monomers. Among PHB copolymers: poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHB-co-HHx), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) (P(3HB-co-4HB)) have improved the flexibility and mechanical properties more than other PHBs. This chapter aims to emphasize the potential on the compatibilization of biodegradable polymer blends with the presence of maleated compatibilizers derived from the host or guest polymers. |
