Effect of Chain Stereoconfiguration on Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) Crystallization Kinetics

Biomacromolecules. 2022 Sep 12;23(9):3847-3859. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c00682. Epub 2022 Aug 5.

Abstract

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is naturally accumulated by bacteria but can also be synthesized chemically. Its processability is limited, as it tends to degrade at temperatures above its melting temperature; hence, investigation into crystallization kinetics and morphology of PHB materials of both natural and synthetic origins is of great need and interest to get a better understanding of structure-property relationship. Accordingly, this contribution reports a first study of the crystallization and morphology of synthetic PHB materials of different molecular weights. These synthetic PHBs are racemic mixtures (50/50 mol %) of R and S chain configurations and are compared with an enantiopure bacterial R-PHB. Nonisothermal and isothermal crystallization studies show that R and S chains of PHB can cocrystallize in the same unit cell as the R-PHB. Most significantly, the results show that the presence of S chains decreases the overall crystallization rate, which could enhance the processability and industrialization of PHB-based materials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid
  • Crystallization
  • Hydroxybutyrates* / chemistry
  • Kinetics
  • Polyesters* / chemistry

Substances

  • Hydroxybutyrates
  • Polyesters
  • poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate
  • 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid