Abstract | In the present study series of graft composites with poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P(3HB) as side chains and ethyl cellulose (EC) as a backbone polymer were successfully synthesised through enzymatic esterification. A range of composites between P(3HB) and EC with different P(3HB): EC ratios were prepared using lipase as a model catalyst. Subsequently, the resulting composites were then removed from the casting surface under ambient environment. Finally the target composites were characterised by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) in detail, and thermo- mechanical behaviours of the grafted composites were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analyser (DMA) measurements, respectively. Whereas, hydrophobic and hydrophilic characteristics were studied through drop contour analysis using water contact angle (WCA). SEM analyses revealed that the uniform P(3HB) dispersion with in the backbone polymer increases the area of P(3HB)-EC contact which further contributes to the efficient functionality of the resulting composites as evidenced by XRD, thermo- mechanical and WCA characterisation profiles of the tested composites. In comparison to the untreated P(3HB) a clear shift in the XRD peaks was observed which clearly indicates the breakdown of some crystalline domains and regeneration of the amorphous material at that specific region of 2 |
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