Effects of hygrothermal aging on chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of poly(3?hydroxybutyrate?co?3?hydroxyvalerate)/Cloisite <scp>30B</scp> bionanocomposite

Hygrothermal aging of neat poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and PHBV filled with an organomodified montmorillonite (C30B) at 3wt. was investigated 65°C 100% relative humidity (RH) up to 100 days. FT-IR data indicated that the carbonyl intensity index decreased exposure time for both samples, while main degradation mechanism occurred through hydrolysis reaction. This led chain scissions resulting in a decrease molar mass. Water absorption increased PHBV/C30B (3wt%) bionanocomposite. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements showed crystallinity melting temperature after hygrothermal thermogravimetric analysis also thermal stability. Mechanical viscoelastic properties were altered, being, however, more pronounced PHBV. Overall, bionanocomposite exhibited better resistance toward RH.