CHAPTER 16
THERMAL PROPERTIES OF
POLYHYDROXYALKANOATES
YOGA SUGAMA SALIM, CHIN HAN CHAN, KUMAR SUDESH,
and SENG NEON GAN
CONTENTS
16.1 Introduction to Polyhydroxyalkanoates ................................................. 442
16.2 Theoretical Background of Isothermal Crystallization .......................... 443
16.2.1 Crystallization Kinetics Under Isothermal Condition for
Semicrystalline Polymer ........................................................... 443
16.2.2 Spherulite Growth Rates for Semicrystalline Polymer ............. 444
16.3 Crystallinity and Melting Behavior ....................................................... 445
16.3.1 Crystallinity and Melting Behavior of PHAs Based on DSC ... 445
16.3.2 Equilibrium Melting Temperatures (
0
m
T ) of PHAs .................. 452
16.3.3 Kinetics of Isothermal Crystallization of PHAs ....................... 454
16.4 Spherulitic Morphology of PHAs and its Mechanical Properties.......... 464
16.5 Summary ................................................................................................ 468
Keywords .......................................................................................................... 468
Acknowledgment .............................................................................................. 469
References ......................................................................................................... 469