Physical and Thermal Analysis of the Degradation of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-co-4-Hydroxybutyrate) Coated Paper in a Constructed Soil Medium

摘要

The degradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) (P(3HB-co-4HB)) coated brown Kraft paper and its components in a constructed soil environment was investigated. Soil burial tests were carried out over 8 weeks. Weight loss measurements, photographic analysis, environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were conducted to assess the physical, structural, mechanical and thermal behavior before and after the soil burial test. Paper showed the highest physical degradation and weight loss. With respect to the control samples, the stiffness of the partially degraded samples decreased. The overall crystallinity of the biopolymer and the coated paper was affected significantly by burial. The pure biopolymer's weight loss was substantially enhanced when coated on paper. This result reveals a possible increased microbial population in the coated paper relative to the pure biopolymer.