Crystallization in PHB/DGEBA blends

Real-time experiments using small-angle X-ray scattering and differential scanning calorimetry on blends of the semicrystalline polyester poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and amorphous monomer epoxy DGEBA (diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A) were performed. Differences in the processes of melting and re-crystallization were observed in blends relative to pure PHB. The results obtained in this study indicated that re-crystallization is more important in blends with 50% DGEBA than in pure PHB. Moreover, segregation toward the interfibrillar region would facilitate re-crystallization. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014, 52, 882–886