Fabrication of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) Fibers Using Centrifugal Fiber Spinning: Structure, Properties and Application Potential

• DOI: 10.3390/polym15051181
• Publication Date: 2023-02-27T06:59:10Z
• Authors: Chris Vanheusden; Jan Vanminsel; Naveen Reddy; Pieter Samyn; Jan D’Haen; Roos Peeters; Anitha Ethirajan; Mieke Buntinx
• Keywords: SOLVENT; Science & Technology; polyhydroxyalkanoates; Polymer Science; poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate); POLYHYDROXYALKANOATES PHAS; 02 engineering and technology; FIBROUS MEMBRANES; top-layer; POLYMER CONCENTRATION; fiber annealing; Article; fiber morphology; SPUN POLYHYDROXYBUTYRATE FIBERS; POLY(3-HYDROXYBUTYRATE); Physical Sciences; ELECTROSPUN NANOFIBERS; MORPHOLOGY; centrifugal fiber spinning; CRYSTALLIZATION; 0210 nano-technology; MELTING BEHAVIOR

Biobased and biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are currently gaining momentum. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx) polymer has a useful processing window for extrusion injection molding of packaging, agricultural fishery applications with required flexibility. Processing PHBHHx into fibers using electrospinning or centrifugal fiber spinning (CFS) can further broaden the application area, although CFS remains rather unexplored. In this study, centrifugally spun from 4–12 wt.% polymer/chloroform solutions. Beads beads-on-a-string (BOAS) fibrous structures an average diameter (ϕav) between 0.5 1.6 µm form at 4–8 concentrations, while more continuous (ϕav = 3.6–4.6 µm) few beads 10–12 concentrations. This change is correlated increased solution viscosity enhanced mechanical properties mats (strength, stiffness elongation values range 1.2–9.4 MPa, 11–93 102–188%, respectively), though crystallinity degree constant (33.0–34.3%). addition, shown to anneal 160 °C in hot press 10–20 compact top-layers on film substrates. We conclude that promising novel technique production tunable morphology properties. Subsequent thermal post-processing as barrier active substrate top-layer offers new potential.