Thermal and mechanical properties of chitosan reinforced polyhydroxybutyrate composites

  1. Rathish Rajan1,2,
  2. P. A. Sreekumar3,
  3. Kuruvilla Joseph4,
  4. Mikael Skrifvars1,*

Article first published online: 21 NOV 2011

DOI: 10.1002/app.35341

Issue

Journal of Applied Polymer Science

Journal of Applied Polymer Science

Volume 124, Issue 4, pages 3357–3362, 15 May 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Rajan, R., Sreekumar, P. A., Joseph, K. and Skrifvars, M. (2012), Thermal and mechanical properties of chitosan reinforced polyhydroxybutyrate composites. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 124: 3357–3362. doi: 10.1002/app.35341

Author Information

  1. 1

    School of Engineering, University of Boras, Boras, Sweden, SE-501 90

  2. 2

    School of Biosciences, Mar Athanasios College for Advanced Studies, Thiruvalla, Kerala, India-689101

  3. 3

    Department of Chemical Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, P. O. Box 5050, Dhahran 31261, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

  4. 4

    Department of Chemistry, India Institute of Space Science & Technology (IIST), Valiamala, Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala, India-695547

*School of Engineering, University of Boras, Boras, Sweden, SE-501 90

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 7 FEB 2012
  2. Article first published online: 21 NOV 2011
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 20 JUL 2011
  4. Manuscript Received: 15 FEB 2011

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Keywords:

  • polyhydroxybutyrate;
  • mechanical properties;
  • thermal properties

Abstract

The article reports the results of studies on the effect of chitosan (0, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 wt %) on thermal and mechanical properties of poly(hydroxybutyrate) composites. The addition of chitosan causes an increase in the glass transition temperature (Tg) while a decrease in the enthalpy of fusion (ΔHfus), crystallization (ΔHcry) and percentage of crystallinity as determined by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The thermogravimetric analysis reveals that high amount of chitosan decreases the thermal stability of the composites. The Young's modulus of the composite increases and is high for the composite having 40 wt % of chitosan. Increase in the amount of chitosan decreases the elongation at break and impact strength of composites. Finally, the Young's modulus of the composites has been compared with the theoretical predictions. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012

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