Crystallization behavior of poly(hydroxybytyrate-co-valerate) in model and bulk PHBV/kenaf fiber composites

The kinetics of non-isothermal crystallization and melting behavior of poly(hydrohybutyrate-co-valerate) (PHBV) in model, bulk and compatibilized (PHBV)/kenaf fiber composites were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Analysis of the non-isothermal crystallization data was carried out based on the Avrami and Mo's models. Activation energies of the crystallization process were determined by the Kissinger approach, and were in the range between 41 and 48 kJ/mol for all investigated samples. It was shown that the kenaf fibers, as well as their content, do not affect significantly the crystallization kinetics of PHBV matrix. The results indicate that crystallization behavior of polymer resin in bulk composites is not affected by the melt processing, thus suggesting absence of degradation processes.