STARCH-FILLED PHB AND PHB HV COPOLYMER

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.