title: Electrospun PHBV/PEO co-solution blends: microstructure, thermal and mechanical properties.
abstract: Blending allows to tailor and modulate the properties of selected polymers. Blends of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) were fabricated by electrospinning in different weight ratios i.e. 100:0, 80:20, 70:30, 50:50, 0:100. In order to evaluate the influence of PEO addition on the final properties of PHBV, a complete microstructural, thermal and mechanical characterization of PHBV/PEO blends has been performed. The two neat polymeric membranes were also considered for the sake of comparison. The following characterization techniques were employed: scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy, simultaneous thermogravimetric and differential analyses (TG-DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and uniaxial tensile tests. All electrospun mats consisted of randomly oriented and uniform fibers. It has been observed that the microstructure of PHBV/PEO was remarkably affected by blend composition. The average fiber size ranged between 0.5 μm and 2.6 μm. It resulted that the electrospun polymeric blends consisted of separate crystalline domains associated to an amorphous interdisperse phase. PHBV/PEO blends presented intermediate mechanical properties, in terms of tensile modulus and ultimate tensile stress, with respect to the two neat components.
authors.affiliation: University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Industrial Engineering, INSTM RU Tor Vergata, Via del Politecnico,1 00133-Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calderone
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cacciotti
mesh_terms: D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D003460:Crystallization; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods*; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013696:Temperature; D013718:Tensile Strength; D013818:Thermogravimetry; D014783:Viscosity; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012996:Solutions; C052620:poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-co-(3-hydroxyvalerate); D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates
keywords: Electrospinning; Fibers; Mechanical properties; Microstructure; Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)/polyethylene oxide blends; Thermal properties