Studying the degradation of polyhydroxybutyrate‐co‐valerate during processing with clay‐based nanofillers

Polyhydroxybutyrate-co-valerate (PHBV) is attracting interest as a new material for packaging applications and nanoparticulate layered silicates are being increasingly explored as a way to improve PHBV film properties. In this context, it is essential to understand how different types of nanofillers could influence polymer properties. PHBV was processed with three-layered clay types using different mixing methods, and we examined the effect of processing time, clay type, and clay content on polymer molecular weight and composite morphology. PHBV molecular weight (Mw) decreased by 38% after extrusion processing and was further reduced in the presence of montmorillonite (MMT). However, when PHBV was processed with kaolinite as the additive, no further reduction in polymer molecular weight was observed. Molecular weight also decreased as the MMT clay content increased from 1 to 5 wt %. The results suggest that release of tightly bound water from clay surfaces at elevated temperature may be responsible for PHBV degradation during processing. Evidence also points to the possibility that the surface modifier present in organically modified MMT may catalyze PHBV degradation in some way. X-ray diffraction studies indicated an intercalated morphology in the presence of modified montmorillonite but good dispersion was also achieved when unmodified kaolinite was blended with PHBV. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009