Isothermal Degradation of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/Organically Modified Montmorillonite Nanocomposites

Polymer nanocomposites consisted of biodegradable Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and organically modified montmorillonite Cloisite25A (OMMT), prepared by the solution-casting method, were isothermally degraded for 120 min at 230, 235, 240, and 245 degrees C in the nitrogen atmosphere. The addition of OMMT increases the thermal stability of PHB, and the most pronounced effect has the addition of 7 wt% of OMMT. Kinetic analysis was performed using reduced time plots and model-free isoconversional methods. The empirical kinetic triplets (E, A, and gr(alpha)) for the isothermal degradation of pure PHB and PHB/OMMT nanocomposites were determined. POLYM. COMPOS., 31:272-278, 2010. (C) 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers