Processing and Properties of Polymer Blends and Nanocomposites based on Polyhydroxyalkanoate-based Biodegradable Polymers

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Plastic waste is a critical issue in today's world and there is a need for finding ways to reduce landfills and ocean waste. Accordingly, there is a special interest in generating plastics from materials that can be readily removed from the biosphere in an environmentally benign fashion. Thus, many countries and companies are targeting developing biodegradable plastics. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are 100% biodegradable polymers. PHAs are non-toxic, biocompatible and biodegradable thermoplastics that can be produced from renewable resources. They are polyesters of various HAs, synthesized by microorganisms using a limited concentration of nutrients. They possess properties similar to various petrochemical-derived commodity plastics like polypropylene and hence can be used as an environmentally friendly substitute. They are also thoroughly degraded to water and carbon dioxide or to methane by micro-organisms found in soil, sea, lake water and sewage. Thus, these materials are ideal to use in an environmentally conscious world. In this project, we will investigate PHAs for applications using blends and nano composites derived from these unique plastic materials. This will include a comparison of PHA properties with common commodity plastics such as polyethylene and polystyrene to define the strengths and weaknesses for new markets. We will then blend PHA with different types of polymers to improve important properties for their use in storage tanks for industrial chemicals, agricultural, oil and gas, construction, and transportation. PHA will be mixed with different types of fillers such as (1) nanoclay, (2) carbon nanotube, and (3) silica spheres, to obtain composites with improved electrical, thermal, mechanical and barrier properties. We will perform characterization of PHA and PHA-based blends and nanocomposites to determine their potential.