Processing, mechanical properties, and structure analysis of melt-spun fibers of P(3HB)/UHMW-P(3HB) identical blend

Taizo Kabe, Takeharu Tsuge, Takaaki Hikima, Masaki Takata, Akio Takemura, Tadahisa Iwata

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

High tensile strength melt-spun fibers of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (P(3HB)) with the addition of a small amount of ultra-high-molecular-weight P(3HB) (UHMW-P(3HB)) were processed by cold-drawing and two-step cold-drawing methods. The mechanical properties and highly ordered structure were investigated by tensile testing, and wide-angle and small-angle X-ray diffraction measurements (WAXD and SAXS) using a synchrotron radiation beam at SPring-8. The molecular weight of P(3HB) decreased drastically within a few minutes during melt-spinning. However, in the case of the blended samples, the degree of molecular weight decrease was slightly reduced by the addition of UHMW-P(3HB). The melt-spun blend fibers stretched at a cold-drawing ratio of 14 showed a tensile strength of 530 MPa. When two-step cold-drawing was applied, the tensile strength increased further to 740 MPa. WAXD and SAXD revealed that the addition of a small amount of UHMW-P(3HB) into P(3HB) induces the formation of the β-form (planar zigzag conformation) of molecular chain, increasing the mechanical properties. Based on these results, it seems that the addition of a small amount of UHMW-P(3HB) has a great effect on the thermal stability and processability of melt-spun fibers and increases their final mechanical properties.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationBiobased Monomers, Polymers, and Materials
PublisherAmerican Chemical Society
Pages63-75
Number of pages13
ISBN (Print)9780841227675
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

Publication series

NameACS Symposium Series
Volume1105
ISSN (Print)0097-6156
ISSN (Electronic)1947-5918

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Processing, mechanical properties, and structure analysis of melt-spun fibers of P(3HB)/UHMW-P(3HB) identical blend'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this