Isothermal degradation of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate)/organically modified montmorillonite nanocomposites

Abstract Polymer nanocomposites consisted of biodegradable poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and organically modified montmorillonite Cloisite25A (OMMT), prepared by the solution‐casting method, were isothermally degraded for 120 min at 230, 235, 240, and 245°C in the nitrogen atmosphere. The addition of OMMT increases the thermal stability of PHB, and the most pronounced effect has the addition of 7 wt% of OMMT. Kinetic analysis was performed using reduced time plots and model‐free isoconversional methods. The empirical kinetic triplets (E, A, and g(α)) for the isothermal degradation of pure PHB and PHB/OMMT nanocomposites were determined. POLYM. COMPOS., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers