Novel Biodegradable Nanocomposites Based on Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3- hydroxyhexanoate) and Aminopropylisobutyl-POSS

摘要

Biodegradable polymers can be degraded by disposal in bioactive environments such as bacteria, fungi, and algae, or by hydrolysis in buffer solutions or sea water. Biodegradable polymers are attractive substitutes for many synthetic materials because they can alleviate problems associated with solid waste disposal. Worldwide consumption of such biodegradable polymers has increased from 14 million kg in 1996 to an estimated 68 million kg in 2001. Poly(3- hydroxyalkanoate) (PHA), a kind of biodegradable and biocompatible polymer, has attracted much research interest and industrial attention as a substitutes for synthetic materials. They are produced directly from renewable resources by microbes which accumulate PHA as carbon and energy storage materials under unbalanced growth conditions. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHx) is one of the most excellent biodegradable semi-crystalline aliphatic polyesters of the PHA family since it provides a unique combination of properties such as full anaerobic degradability, moisture resistance, barrier properties, shelf stability under distribution and home storage conditions, process-ability on conventional equipment, dye-ability, etc. It has potential applications in the manufacture of storage bags, shopping bags, and slip covers, coatings in automobiles, furniture, etc. This copolymer has the advantage of biodegradability, but is somewhat lacking in strength. In previous studies, we showed that the technique of orientation induced by pre-stretching and incorporation exfoliated layered silicates were feasible methods to give this material better mechanical properties.