Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Poly(butylene glutarate) as a processing aid for hot-melt extrusion of poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyhexanoate)

  • MRS 50th Anniversary Research Letter
  • Published:
MRS Communications Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Poly(butylene glutarate) (PBG) was evaluated as a processing aid for hot-melt extrusion of poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx). The presence of PBG reduced the melt viscosity and storage and loss moduli of PHBHHx, and the magnitude of these effects increased with higher PBG loadings. The optimal content of PBG in PHA was observed to be 10 wt%, and was shown to accumulate at the wall/die surfaces of the extruder, acting as a slip agent. The enhancement in processability given by PBG was evidenced through elimination of melt fracture and preservation of molecular weight.

Graphical abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

References

  1. B.A. Bhairav, P.A. Kokane, R.B. Saudagar, Hot melt extrusion technique-a review. Res. J. Sci. Tech. 8(3), 155–162 (2016). https://doi.org/10.5958/2349-2988.2016.00022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. M.M. Crowley, F. Zhang, M.A. Repka, S. Thumma, S.B. Upadhye, S.K. Battu, J.W. McGinity, C. Martin, Pharmaceutical applications of hot-melt extrusion: part I. Drug Dev. Ind. Pharm. 33(9), 909–926 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1080/03639040701498759FromNLM

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. J.-M. Raquez, R. Narayan, P. Dubois, Recent advances in reactive extrusion processing of biodegradable polymer-based compositions. Macromol. Mater. Eng. 293(6), 447–470 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1002/mame.200700395

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. D.E. Crawford, Extrusion-back to the future: using an established technique to reform automated chemical synthesis. Beilstein J. Org. Chem 13, 65–75 (2017). https://doi.org/10.3762/bjoc.13.9PubMed

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. M.M. Denn, Extrusion instabiliies and wall slip. Annu. Rev. Fluid Mech. 33(1), 265–287 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.fluid.33.1.265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. A.C.T. Aarts, Analysis of the flow instabilities in the extrusion of polymeric melts, Dissertation, Eindhoven University of Technology, 1997

  7. S. Ebnesajjad, R.A. Morgan, Applications of processing aid additives, in Fluoropolymer additives. ed. by S. Ebnesajjad, R.A. Morgan (William Andrew Publishing, Norwich, 2012), pp.193–209

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  8. E.C. Achilleos, G. Georgiou, S.G. Hatzikiriakos, Role of processing aids in the extrusion of molten polymers. J. Vinyl Addit. Technol. 8(1), 7–24 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1002/vnl.10340

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. F. Muneer, I. Rasul, F. Azeem, M.H. Siddique, M. Zubair, H. Nadeem, Microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs): efficient replacement of synthetic polymers. J. Polym. Environ. 28(9), 2301–2323 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-020-01772-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Z. Li, J. Yang, X.J. Loh, Polyhydroxyalkanoates: opening doors for a sustainable future. NPG Asia Mater. 8(4), e265 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/am.2016.48

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. K.W. Meereboer, M. Misra, A.K. Mohanty, Review of recent advances in the biodegradability of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics and their composites. Green Chem. 22(17), 5519–5558 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1039/D0GC01647K

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. V. Sharma, R. Sehgal, R. Gupta, Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA): properties and modifications. Polymer 212, 123161 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2020.123161

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. E. Bugnicourt, P. Cinelli, A. Lazzeri, V. Alvarez, Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA): review of synthesis, characteristics, processing and potential applications in packaging. eXPRESS Polym. Lett. 8, 791–808 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. A. Holt, Y. Ke, J.A. Bramhall, G. Crane, J.B. Grubbs, E.M. White, J. Horn, J. Locklin, Blends of poly(butylene glutarate) and poly(lactic acid) with enhanced ductility and composting performance. ACS Appl. Polym. Mater. 3(3), 1652–1663 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.1c00078

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. ASTM International. Stardard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics (ASTM D638–14, West Conshohocken, PA, 2014). https://doi.org/10.1520/D0638-14

  16. X. Xu, J. Chen, L. An, Shear thinning behavior of linear polymer melts under shear flow via nonequilibrium molecular dynamics. J. Chem. Phys. 140(17), 174902 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4873709

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. M. Xie, X. Liu, H. Li, Influence of poly (ethylene glycol)-containing additives on extrusion of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene/polypropylene blend. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 100(2), 1282–1288 (2006)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. N. Othman, B. Jazrawi, P. Mehrkhodavandi, S.G. Hatzikiriakos, Wall slip and melt fracture of poly(lactides). Rheol. Acta 51(4), 357–369 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00397-011-0613-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. ASTM International. Standard Specification for Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities (ASTM D6400–12, West Conshohocken, PA, 2012). https://doi.org/10.1520/D6400-12

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by a contribution from the RWDC Environmental Stewardship Foundation and by the Center for Bioplastics and Biocomposites under the National Science Foundation grant no. 2113830.

Funding

RWDC Environmental Stewardship Foundation, Division of Engineering Education and Centers, 2113830, Jason Locklin.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA

    Apisata Holt, Joshua Bledsoe & Jason Locklin

  2. New Materials Institute, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA

    Apisata Holt, Joshua Bledsoe, Grant Crane & Jason Locklin

  3. College of Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA

    Jason Locklin

Authors
  1. Apisata Holt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joshua Bledsoe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Grant Crane
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jason Locklin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jason Locklin.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 1069 KB)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Holt, A., Bledsoe, J., Crane, G. et al. Poly(butylene glutarate) as a processing aid for hot-melt extrusion of poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyhexanoate). MRS Communications 13, 854–861 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1557/s43579-023-00394-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/s43579-023-00394-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation