Effect of Mechanical Properties on the Miscibility of a PHBV/PP Blend

The present work is dedicated to the study of the mechanical and rheological properties of poly (hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) PHBV blends with polypropylene PP. Given the incompatibility of these homopolymers, the use of a compatibilizing agent is essential. For this purpose, titanium dioxide (TiO2) and maleic anhydride (MA) are used. These constituents are chosen on the basis of some work that showed a high compatibility between it and the two homopolymers PHBV and PP. Thus, this copolymer has a great potential to improve the interfacial adhesion between these two polymers. From the results obtained from the techniques used in this study, it can be concluded that the immiscible PP/PHBV mixture can be effectively compatibilizing for by maleic anhydride. The latter is able to create chemical bonds between the macromolecular chains of the two polymers at the interface and therefore improves their properties.