About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Biosustainable Materials for a Circular Economy
|
| Presentation Title |
Graft Copolymerization of Unsaturated PHAs for High-Performance Biodegradable Polymer Blends |
| Author(s) |
Ashwin Velraj, Jeffrey Bates |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Ashwin Velraj |
| Abstract Scope |
This study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of novel PHA-based copolymers with enhanced mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties suitable for current manufacturing applications. Unsaturated PHAs were functionalized using a “grafting onto” strategy with polymers such as PLA, PS, PP, and biopolymers like PVA, employing diverse polymerization techniques including ring-opening, free radical, and metallocene-catalyzed insertion. Additional copolymerization with FDCA and BDO was pursued to tailor degradation and stability profiles. The resulting materials were evaluated for tensile strength and viscoelastic properties using universal testing and DMA, while thermal behavior was assessed via DSC and TGA, targeting melting temperatures between 120–160 °C. Degradation was monitored across controlled sample dimensions to assess bulk effects over time. These copolymers are expected to integrate the flexibility and biodegradability of PHA with the enhanced rigidity and thermal resilience of the grafted polymers, offering promising alternatives to commodity plastics with improved sustainability and processability. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Polymers, Biomaterials, Sustainability |