The structure and mechanical properties of melt-pressed sheets of bact
erially produced poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and poly-3-hydroxybutyra
te-co-3-hydroxyvalerate (PHB/HV) filled with various amounts of partic
ulate maize starch granules have been investigated. The experimental m
ethods included stress-strain measurements, differential thermal analy
sis to determine heats of fusion and melting temperatures, scanning el
ectron microscopy, and optical microscopy to obtain information on cry
stallization behaviour and spherulite growth.