Effect of modified microcrystalline cellulose on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) molecular dynamics by proton relaxometry

Hybrid films of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and modified cellulose by solution casting method were prepared, aiming to study the influence of modified cellulose (0.25%, 0.5% and 0.75% w/w) on the structural organization and thermal properties of PHB matrix. The modified cellulose showed good dispersion in polymer matrix, due to the high compatibility between phases explained by similarity of polymer and filler structures. The composites were studied by wide-angle X-ray diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The conjugation of results coming from those techniques allowed to determine the cellulose concentration that had the highest influence on crystalline planes and degree of crystallinity of PHB, that is, the influence in the composite structure. The molecular dynamics obtained by NMR showed a reciprocal influence between polymer matrix and cellulose particles, enhancing the interactions present in the agglomerated particles.