Microwave-assisted graft copolymerization effects on the material properties of polyhydroxybutyrate-cellulose nanocrystal nanocomposites

This study examined the influence of polyhydroxybutyrate grafted maleic anhydride (PHB - g - MA) copolymer on the mechanical, structural, thermal, morphological, and rheological properties of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)-cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) nanocomposites. The results showed that the adding PHB - g - MA and CNCs had a positive effect on the mechanical and morphological properties of the BNCs (biopolymer nanocomposites). According to the DSC results, there were slight changes in the crystallization temperature (Tc) and the melting temperature (Tm) of the BNCs, and the DMA curves showed that the inclusion of PHB - g - MA resulted in an increase in the storage and loss moduli. The XRD results showed four main peaks with 2 theta values of 13.57 degrees, 16.98 degrees, 22.2 degrees, and 25.39 degrees with the presence of both PHB - g - MA and CNCs. In rheological studies, it was determined that both elastic and viscous moduli of the neat PHB and the BNCs generally increased as the frequency value was raised.