Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, Vol.556, 288-300, 2012
Hydrolytic Degradation of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), Polylactide and their Derivatives: Kinetics, Crystallinity, and Surface Morphology
Hydrolytic degradations of biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), polylactide (PLA) and their derivatives were explored by kinetic and structure methods at 37 and 70 degrees C in phosphate buffer. It was revealed the kinetic profiles for copolymer PHBV (20% of 3-hydroxyvalerate) and the blend PHB-PLA (1:1 wt. ratio). The intensity of biopolymer hydrolysis depending on temperature is characterized by total weight loss and the viscosity-averaged molecular weight decrement (Delta MW) as well as by WAXS and AMF techniques. Characterization of PHB and PHBV includes both Delta MW and crystallinity evolution (x-ray diffraction) as well as the AFM analysis of PHB film surfaces before and after aggressive medium exposition. The degradation is enhanced in the series PHBV < PHB < PHB-PLA blend < PLA. The impact of MW on the biopolymer hydrolysis is shown.
Keywords:AMF;bacterial poly(3-hydroxybutyrate);copolymer PHBV;crystallinity;PHB-PLA blend non-enzymatic hydrolysis;polylactide;role of molecular weight;total weight loss;WAXS