Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Biocomposites Made of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and Potato Pulp Powder

The thermal and mechanical properties of biocomposites of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) containing 5 wt % of valerate units, with 20 wt % of potato pulp powder were investigated in order (i) to obtain information on possible miscibility/compatibility between the biopolymers and the potato pulp, and (ii) to quantify how the addition of this filler modifies the properties of the polymeric material. The potato pulp powder utilized is a residue of processing for the production and extraction of starch. The final aim of this study is the preparation of PHBV based materials with reduced cost, thanks to biomass valorization, in agreement with the circular economy policy, as result of the incorporation of agricultural organic waste. The results showed that the potato pulp powder does not act as reinforcement, but rather as filler for the PHBV polymeric matrix. A moderate loss in mechanical properties is detected (decrease in elastic modulus, tensile strength and elongation at break), which regardless still meets the technical requirements indicated for rigid packaging production. In order to improve the mechanical response of the PHBV/potato pulp powder biocomposites, surface treatment of the potato pulp powder with bio-based and petroleum-based waxes was investigated. Good enhancement of the mechanical properties was achieved with the natural carnauba and bee waxes.

[1]  K. Sudesh,et al.  Synthesis, structure and properties of polyhydroxyalkanoates: biological polyesters , 2000 .

[2]  Andrea Lazzeri,et al.  Effect of Potato Pulp Filler on the Mechanical Properties and Water Vapor Transmission Rate of Thermoplastic WPI/PBS Blends , 2016 .

[3]  Andrew C. Smith,et al.  Characterization of polyhydroxybutyrate-hydroxyvalerate (PHB-HV)/maize starch blend films , 2008 .

[4]  N. Gontard,et al.  Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) and wheat straw fibers biocomposites produced by co-grinding: Processing and mechanical behavior , 2017 .

[5]  C. Schick,et al.  Melting and reorganization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) on fast heating (1000 K/s) , 2004 .

[6]  M. Misra,et al.  Biofibres, biodegradable polymers and biocomposites: An overview , 2000 .

[7]  E. Tombari,et al.  The role of the crystallization temperature on the nanophase structure evolution of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate]. , 2013, The journal of physical chemistry. B.

[8]  M. Wolcott,et al.  Study of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)/Bamboo Pulp Fiber Composites: Effects of Nucleation Agent and Compatibilizer , 2008 .

[9]  V. Guillard,et al.  Sustainable food packaging: Valorising wheat straw fibres for tuning PHBV-based composites properties , 2015 .

[10]  Hao Wang,et al.  A review on the tensile properties of natural fiber reinforced polymer composites , 2011 .

[11]  Dalva Alves Silva,et al.  Soil Biodegradation of PHBV/Peach Palm Particles Biocomposites , 2010 .

[12]  T. Peijs,et al.  Biodegradable composites based on flax/polyhydroxybutyrate and its copolymer with hydroxyvalerate , 2010 .

[13]  Angela Montanari,et al.  Processing, Valorization and Application of Bio-Waste Derived Compounds from Potato, Tomato, Olive and Cereals: A Review , 2017 .

[14]  F. Signori,et al.  Amorphous/crystal and polymer/filler interphases in biocomposites from poly(butylene succinate) , 2012 .

[15]  Long Yu,et al.  Polymer blends and composites from renewable resources , 2006 .

[16]  M. Gazzano,et al.  The Role of the Rigid Amorphous Fraction on Cold Crystallization of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) , 2012 .

[17]  Andreas Keller,et al.  Compounding and mechanical properties of biodegradable hemp fibre composites , 2003 .

[18]  D. Dollimore,et al.  Comparative thermal analysis study of two biopolymers, starch and cellulose , 1997 .

[19]  L. Turng,et al.  Melt compounding of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)/nanofibrillated cellulose nanocomposites , 2013 .

[20]  Guoqiang Chen,et al.  Processability Modifications of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) by Plasticizing, Blending, and Stabilizing , 2008 .

[21]  Y. Inoue,et al.  Effect of low molecular weight additives on enzymatic degradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) , 2000 .

[22]  G. Höhne,et al.  Metrologically based procedures for the temperature, heat and heat flow rate calibration of DSC , 1997 .

[23]  Maya Jacob John,et al.  Biofibres and Biocomposites , 2008 .

[24]  M. Bechelany,et al.  Potential of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polymers family as substitutes of petroleum based polymers for packaging applications and solutions brought by their composites to form barrier materials , 2017 .

[25]  R. Landel,et al.  Mechanical Properties of Polymers and Composites , 1993 .

[26]  K. Satyanarayana,et al.  Biodegradable composites based on lignocellulosic fibers—An overview , 2009 .

[27]  M. Misra,et al.  Reactive compatibilization and performance evaluation of miscanthus biofiber reinforced poly(hydroxybutyrate‐co‐hydroxyvalerate) biocomposites , 2017 .

[28]  Guy César,et al.  Seawater accelerated ageing of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate , 2014 .

[29]  A. Werker,et al.  The chemomechanical properties of microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates , 2013 .

[30]  M. Pyda,et al.  Heat capacity of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) , 2014 .

[31]  R. Shanks,et al.  Thermoplastic biopolyester natural fiber composites , 2004 .

[32]  N. Gontard,et al.  Impact of fibre moisture content on the structure/mechanical properties relationships of PHBV/wheat straw fibres biocomposites , 2015 .

[33]  S. Vitolo,et al.  Phb-rich Biomass and Bioh2 Production by Means of Photosynthetic Microorganisms , 2016 .

[34]  A. Błędzki,et al.  Composites reinforced with cellulose based fibres , 1999 .

[35]  K. P. Sandeep,et al.  Preparation and characterization of bio-nanocomposite films based on soy protein isolate and montmorillonite using melt extrusion , 2010 .

[36]  L. Mei,et al.  Study of the influence of plasticizers on the thermal and mechanical properties of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) compounds , 2003 .

[37]  Manuel Garcia-Perez,et al.  Co-pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse with petroleum residue. Part I: thermogravimetric analysis , 2001 .

[38]  Flavourings.  Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 10, Revision 3 (FGE.10Rev3): aliphatic primary and secondary saturated and unsaturated alcohols, aldehydes, acetals, carboxylic acids and esters containing an additional oxygenated functional group and lactones from chemical groups 9, 13 and 30. , 2012 .

[39]  M. Laus,et al.  Temperature dependence of the rigid amorphous fraction in poly(ethylene terephthalate) , 2014 .

[40]  R. Lappalainen,et al.  Utilization of agricultural and forest industry waste and residues in natural fiber-polymer composites: A review. , 2016, Waste management.

[41]  A. P. Tulloch.  The composition of beeswax and other waxes secreted by insects , 1970, Lipids.

[42]  Andrea Lazzeri,et al.  Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA): Review of synthesis, characteristics, processing and potential applications in packaging , 2014 .

[43]  H. Hamada,et al.  Renewable resource based biocomposites from natural fiber and polyhydroxybutyrate-co-valerate (PHBV) bioplastic , 2008 .

[44]  Zachary C. Wright,et al.  Mechanisms and impact of fiber–matrix compatibilization techniques on the material characterization of PHBV/oak wood flour engineered biobased composites , 2012 .

[45]  A. Błędzki,et al.  Biocomposites reinforced with natural fibers: 2000–2010 , 2012 .

[46]  L. E. Vandenburg,et al.  The structural constituents of carnauba wax , 1970 .

[47]  P. Dubois,et al.  Enhancement of cellulose acetate degradation under accelerated weathering by plasticization with eco-friendly plasticizers , 2013 .

[48]  Andrea Lazzeri,et al.  Novel Sustainable Composites Based on Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) and Seagrass Beach-CAST Fibers: Performance and Degradability in Marine Environments , 2018, Materials.

[49]  N. Demarquette,et al.  Incorporation of plasticizers in sugarcane-based poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)(PHB): Changes in microstructure and properties through ageing and annealing , 2015 .

[50]  T. Volova,et al.  Biodegradation of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) in tropical coastal waters and identification of PHA-degrading bacteria , 2010 .

[51]  Haiping Yang,et al.  Characteristics of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin pyrolysis , 2007 .

[52]  Sung-Hoon Ahn,et al.  Recent Advances in the Application of Natural Fiber Based Composites , 2010 .