In this work, epoxy/poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) blends in two different proportions, 90/10 and 85/15, were studied. For this purpose, the samples were submitted to 80ºC and 120ºC for the curing process of epoxy. The phase separation and the crystallization were analyzed using optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Likewise, the lamellar structure of PHB was characterized using small angle X-ray scattering. Significant differences between the two proportions studied were found; while the 90/10 sample presents miscibility, the 85/15 sample indicates a phase separation. Besides, the lamellar structure of PHB is affected due to the epoxy, mainly in the 90/10 sample. The results were analyzed on the basis of the competition between crystallization and phase separation processes.
Blend; epoxy; PHB; crystallization
