EVALUACIÓN DE LA DEGRADACIÓN DE MEZCLAS POLIMÉRICAS SOMETIDAS A UN CULTIVO ORGÁNICO MEDIANTE ESPECTROSCOPÍA INFRARROJA Y CALORIMETRÍA DIFERENCIAL DE BARRIDO

The properties of blends of the poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) PHB biopolymer were investigated with a polyolefin domestic, linear low density polyethylene (PELBD), mixed in proportions (polyolefin/PHB) (25/75); And (polyolefin/PHB/AC) (22/72/6); The PELBD/PHB mixtures showed by FTIR spectroscopy displacements of the band corresponding to the C=O group evidencing hydrogen bonded interactions favored in the mixtures by the compatibilizing agent (AC). From the 20 days of subjecting the PHB biopolymers to compost, differences in thermal properties were observed. In the PELBD/PHB mixtures (25/75), the dispersed phase of the PELBD gave the PHB matrix a nucleating effect which facilitated the formation of the crystals in the mixture when it was cooled from the molten state. Over time in the compost, the crystals in the PELBD/PHB mixtures were rearranged as a product of degradation. Key words: Low density linear polyethylene, poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) PHB, Compatibilizing agent, Polymer mixtures. References [1]A. Lorenzo, “Caracterizacion de una polimezcla biodegradable a base de Poli(e-caprolactona) y almidon de maiz”, Trabajo de doctorado. Departamento de quimica, Universidad Simon Bolivar, Caracas. 2002. [2] R. Lenz and H. Robert, “Bacterial polyesters: biosynthesis, biodegradable plastics and biotechnology”, Biomacromolecules, 6: 1-7, 2005. [3] R. Perera, C. Albano, Y. Sanchez, A. Karam, P. Silva and J. Pastor, “Changes in Structural Characteristics of LLDPE Functionalized with DEM Using Gamma-Irradiation”. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 124, pp.1106–1116. 2012.  [4]M. Sabino, D. Morales, G. Ronca and J. Feijoo, “Estudio de la degradacion hidrolitica de un copolimero biodegradable”, Acta cientifica venezolana. 54: pp 18-27, 2003.  [5]S. Kalil, “Seguimiento del proceso de humificacion en compost inoculado”. Proyecto de grado, Facultad de ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Bogota D.C. 2007.  [6] N. Gonzales, R. Lorenzo, W. Figuera, N. Bracro and B. Rojas, “Copolimerizacion de polipropileno isotatico de dietilester del acido maleico mediante reacciones de funcionalizacion”, XII Coloquio venezolano de polimeros, 9(3), 2007. [7]W. Figuera, B. Rojas, J. Prin, V. Castillo and A. Muller, “Evaluacion de las mezclas basadas en el polimero biodegradable polihidroxibutirato y polietileno funcionalizado con acrilamida y dietilmaleato”, Revista iberoamericana de polimeros. 9(3). 2007.  [8] A. Lorenzo, M. Sabino and A. Muller, “Estudio de la biodegradacion de una polimezcla de poli(e-caprolactona) y almidon de maiz (PCL/Alm) y su compatibilizacion con almidon plastificado”, Revista latinoamericana de metalurgia y materiales. 23(2): pp. 25-35, 2005.  [9] F. Avalos, L. Ramos, A. Espinosa, J. Guillermo, E. Ramirez, S. Sanchez, J. Ortiz, and E. Martinez, “Effect of Different Nucleating Agents on the Crystallization of Ziegler-Natta Isotactic Polypropylene”, International Journal of Polymer Science Volume, Article ID 9839201, 2016.