Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Nucleation, growth and morphology of poly(hydroxybutyrate) and its copolymers

  • Papers
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Measurements of the melting temperatures, growth rates and nucleation rates of meltcrystallized polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and two poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHB/HV) copolymers are reported for crystallization over a wide range of temperature. Examples are shown of the spherulitic morphologies obtained. From the variation in melting point with crystallization temperature values for the equilibrium melting points of PHB and PHB/HV are obtained. Growth and nucleation rate measurements are analysed using secondary nucleation theory to obtain approximations to surface energies within the crystals. PHB and PHB/7% HV are described well by secondary nucleation theory. PHB/23% HV exhibits more complex crystallization and melting behaviour, which suggests temperature-dependent exclusion of HV units from the crystals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. M. Lemoigne, Ann. Inst. Past. 39 (1925) 144.

    Google Scholar 

  2. J. Merrick, Photosynth. Bact. 199 (1978) 219.

    Google Scholar 

  3. E. A. Dawes and P. J. Senior, Adv. Microbiol. 10 (1973) 138.

    Google Scholar 

  4. J. S. Herron, J. D. King and D. C. White, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 35 (1978) 251.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. N. G. Carr, Biochem. Biophys. Acta 120 (1966) 308.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. L. L. Wallen and W. K. Rohwedder, Environ. Sci. Technol. 8 (1974) 576.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. A. C. Ward, B. I. Rowley and E. A. Dawes, J. Gen. Microbiol. 102 (1977) 61.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. P. A. Holmes, in “Developments in Crystalline Polymers 2”, edited by D. C. Bassett (Elsevier, London, 1987) p. 1.

    Google Scholar 

  9. P. J. Barham, A. Keller, E. L. Otun and P. A. Holmes, J. Mater. Sci. 19 (1984) 2781.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. P. J. Barham, ibid. 19 (1984) 3826.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. P. J. Barham and A. Keller, J. Polym. Sci. Polym. Phys. Edn 24 (1986) 69.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. S. J. Organ and P. J. Barham, J. Mater. Sci. Lett. 8 (1989) 621.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. J. D. Hoffman and J. J. Weeks, J. Chem. Phys. 37 (1962) 1723.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. J. D. Hoffman, Polymer 24 (1983) 3.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. F. P. Price, in “Nucleation”, edited by A. C. Zettlemayer (Marcel Dekker, New York, 1969) p. 56.

    Google Scholar 

  16. P. A. Barker, F. Mason and P. J. Barham, J. Mater. Sci. 25 (1990) p. 1952.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. H.H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, BS8 1TL, Bristol, UK

    S. J. Organ & P. J. Barham

Authors
  1. S. J. Organ
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. J. Barham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Organ, S.J., Barham, P.J. Nucleation, growth and morphology of poly(hydroxybutyrate) and its copolymers. J Mater Sci 26, 1368–1374 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00544479

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00544479

Keywords

Search

Navigation