Synthesis, morphology and thermal properties of polyurethanes nanocomposites based on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and organoclay

Segmented poly(ester-ether urethane)s/organoclay nanocomposites based on bacterial poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and poly(ɛ-caprolactone)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL-PEG-PCL triblock copolymer) with Cloisite® 30B organoclay (C30B) were prepared by solution intercalation method. XRD, SEM and TEM results showed good dispersion of clay particles in polyurethane matrix. The presence of C30B increased Tg of PCL-PEG-PCL soft segments and the crystallization rate of PHB and PCL-PEG-PCL segments. C30B caused an enhancement in polyurethanes thermal stability and had an accelerating effect upon the main thermal decomposition of the polymer matrix as indicated by the lower activation energy (Ea) of decomposition compared to virgin materials, estimated using Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose isoconversional method.