title: Enhancement of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) thermal and processing stability using a bio-waste derived additive.
abstract: Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a biodegradable polymer, whose applicability is limited by its brittleness and narrow processing window. In this study a pomace extract (EP), from the bio-waste of winery industry, was used as thermal and processing stabilizer for PHB, aimed to engineer a totally bio-based system. The results showed that EP enhanced the thermal stability of PHB, which maintained high molecular weights after processing. This evidence was in agreement with the slower decrease in viscosity over time observed by rheological tests. EP also affected the melt crystallization kinetics and the overall crystallinity extent. Finally, dynamic mechanical and tensile tests showed that EP slightly improved the polymer ductility. The results are intriguing, in view of the development of sustainable alternatives to synthetic polymer additives, thus increasing the applicability of bio-based materials. Moreover, the reported results demonstrated the feasibility of the conversion of an agro-food by-product into a bio-resource in an environmentally friendly and cost-effective way.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Polymer Chemistry and Technology (ICTP-CNR), via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli (Na), Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Persico
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ambrogi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baroni
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santagata
authors.forename: Cosimo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carfagna
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malinconico
authors.forename: Pierfrancesco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cerruti
mesh_terms: D004355:Drug Stability; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000737:chemistry*; D007220:Industrial Waste; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D012212:Rheology; D013696:Temperature; D014920:Wine; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates
chemical_list: D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D007220:Industrial Waste; D011091:Polyesters; C003182:poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates