Novel bioresource‐based poly(3‐Hydroxybutyrate‐co‐4‐Hydroxybutyrate)/poly(LacticAcid) blend fibers with high strength and toughness via melt‐spinning
Ziyang Chen, Zuoxian Zhao, Jianhan Hong, Zhijuan Pan
Abstract
ABSTRACT Novel biodegradable blend fibers based on the biomaterials poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐4‐hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB4HB) and poly(lacticacid) (PLA) were successfully prepared by combining melt spinning and hot drawing. The results showed that the commixture could continuous and stable spin for a P3HB4HB ratio of 30–35 wt% and winding speed of 20–30 m/min. The thermal stability of the P3HB4HB/PLA blend fiber was increased, as determined by thermogravimetric analysis. The crystallinity degree of the P3HB4HB/PLA blend fibers increased with increasing the P3HB4HB content. The addition of PLA resulted in a low cold crystallization temperature and diminutive size of the lamellar stacks, which would be favorable for the enhancement of the mechanical properties of the blend fiber, when the P3HB4HB content was 30–35 wt%. The P3HB4HB/PLA composite fiber was one type of high‐strength and high‐toughness fiber, with 1 GPa breaking stress and over 80% strain at break. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137 , 48956.