Non-Isothermal Crystallization Kinetics of Injection Grade PHBV and PHBV/Carbon Nanotubes Nanocomposites Using Isoconversional Method

Carbon nanotubes (CNT)-reinforced polymeric composites are being studied as promising materials due to their enhanced properties. However, understanding the behavior of polymers during non-isothermal crystallization is important once the degree of crystallinity and crystallization processes are affected when nanoparticles are added to matrices. Usually, crystallization kinetics studies are performed using a model-fitting method, though the isoconversional method allows to obtain the kinetics parameter without assuming a crystallization model. Therefore, in this work, CNTs were oxidized (CNT-Ox) and functionalized with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) (CNT-GB) and incorporated into a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) matrix. The influence of the addition and functionalization of CNT in the crystallization kinetics of PHBV was evaluated using the isoconversional method with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and by polarized light optical microscopy (PLOM) and Shore D hardness. The incorporation and functionalization of CNT into PHBV matrix did not change the Šesták and Berggren crystallization model; however, the lowest activation energy was obtained for the composite produced with CNT-GB, suggesting a better dispersion into the PHBV matrix. PLOM and Shore D hardness confirmed the results obtained in the kinetics study, showing the smallest crystallite size for CNT-containing nanocomposites and the highest hardness value for the composite produced with CNT-GB.

A Review on Grafting of Biofibers for Biocomposites

A recent increase in the use of biofibers as low-cost and renewable reinforcement for the polymer biocomposites has been seen globally. Biofibers are classified into: lignocellulosic fibers (i.e., cellulose, wood and natural fibers), nanocellulose (i.e., cellulose nanocrystals and cellulose nanofibrils), and bacterial cellulose, while polymer matrix materials can be petroleum based or bio-based. Green biocomposites can be produced using both biobased fibers and polymers. Incompatibility between the hydrophilic biofibers and hydrophobic polymer matrix can cause performance failure of resulting biocomposites. Diverse efforts have focused on the modification of biofibers in order to improve the performances of biocomposites. “Grafting” copolymerization strategy can render the advantages of biofiber and impart polymer properties onto it and the performance of biocomposites can be tuned through changing grafting parameters. This review presents a short overview of various “grafting” methods which can be directly or potentially employed to enhance the interaction between biofibers and a polymer matrix for biocomposites. Major grafting techniques, including ring opening polymerization, grafting via coupling agent and free radical induced grafting, have been discussed. Improved properties such as mechanical, thermal, and water resistance have provided grafted biocomposites with new opportunities for applications in specific industries.