Accelerated Weathering Testing (AWT) and Bacterial Biodegradation Effects on Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)/Rapeseed Microfiber Biocomposites Properties
Plymers 2024
Madara Žiganova, Remo Merijs-Meri, Jānis Zicāns, Agnese Ābele, Ivans Bočkovs, Tatjana Ivanova

In the context of sustainable materials, this study explores the effects of accelerated weathering testing and bacterial biodegradation on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)/rapeseed microfiber biocomposites. Accelerated weathering, simulating outdoor environmental conditions, and bacterial biodegradation, representing natural degradation processes in soil, were employed to investigate the changes in the mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of these materials during its post-production life cycle. Attention was paid to the assessment of the change of structural, mechanical and calorimetric properties of alkali and N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO)-treated rapeseed microfiber (RS)-reinforced plasticized PHBV composites before and after accelerated weathering. Results revealed that accelerated weathering led to an increase in stiffness, but a reduction in tensile strength and elongation at break, of the investigated PHBV biocomposites. Additionally, during accelerated weathering, the crystallinity of PHBV biocomposites increased, especially in the presence of RS, due to both the hydrolytic degradation of the polymer matrix and the nucleating effect of the filler. It has been observed that an increase in PHBV crystallinity, determined by DSC measurements, correlates with the intensity ratio I1225/1180 obtained from FTIR-ATR data. The treatment of RS microfibers increased the biodegradation capability of the developed PHBV composites, especially in the case of chemically untreated RS. All the developed PHBV composites demonstrated faster biodegradation in comparison to neat PHBV matrix.


Keywords
rapeseed microfibers; alkali treatment; N-methylmorpholine N-oxide treatment; poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate); biocomposite; biodegradation; accelerated weathering (PDF) Accelerated Weathering Testing (AWT) and Bacterial Biodegradation Effects on Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)/Rapeseed Microfiber Biocomposites Properties. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378508271_Accelerated_Weathering_Testing_AWT_and_Bacterial_Biodegradation_Effects_on_Poly3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate_PHBVRapeseed_Microfiber_Biocomposites_Properties
DOI
10.3390/polym16050622
Hyperlink
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/5/622

Žiganova, M., Merijs-Meri, R., Zicāns, J., Ābele, A., Bočkovs, I., Ivanova, T. Accelerated Weathering Testing (AWT) and Bacterial Biodegradation Effects on Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)/Rapeseed Microfiber Biocomposites Properties. Plymers, 2024, Vol. 16, No. 5, pp.1-22. e-ISSN 2073-4360. Available from: doi:10.3390/polym16050622

Publication language
English (en)
The Scientific Library of the Riga Technical University.
E-mail: uzzinas@rtu.lv; Phone: +371 28399196