The present work deals with polymer blends produced from poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), P3HB and polyurethane. Linear polyurethane (PU) was here synthesized by reacting polypropylene glycol with 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, and was used in amounts of 5, 10 and 15 wt. %. The polymers were melt-mixed using a twin-screw extruder after prior premixing. The obtained blends were tested by differential scanning calorimetry analysis (DSC), Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Their thermal and mechanical properties, including impact resistance, hardness, tensile and flexural properties, were also determined, and the surface topography and roughness were analyzed. FTIR analysis of the prepared blends confirmed the interactions of PU with the P3HB matrix via hydrogen bonding. Analysis of the surface topography of the samples showed that the higher the PU content, the greater the regularity and homogeneity of the surface structure. The roughness of the P3HB blend containing 5 wt. % PU was the greatest. SEM images of the fracture surfaces of the blend samples explain the mechanism of the improvement of their mechanical properties. The obtained polymer blends were characterized by significantly lower hardness, and better impact strength and relative elongation at break compared to native P3HB. The DSC results confirm a decrease in the glass transition, melting and crystallization temperatures with increasing amounts of PU in the blends. The lower melting temperature and the higher degradation temperature of the resulted blends than native P3HB make the processing conditions easier, and prevent the degradation of the material. The best mechanical and thermal properties were shown by blends containing 10 wt. % of PU.

Department of Industrial and Materials Chemistry Faculty of Chemistry Rzeszów University of Technology Powstańców Warszawy 6 35 959 Rzeszów Poland

Department of Machining and Assembly Technical University of Liberec Studentská 1402 2 460 01 Liberec Czech Republic

Department of Material Forming and Processing Rzeszów University of Technology Powstańców Warszawy 8 35 959 Rzeszów Poland

Department of Medical Analytics Faculty of Health Sciences The Jacob of Paradies University in Gorzów Wielkopolski Chopina 52 66 400 Gorzów Wielkopolski Poland

Department of Organic Chemistry Faculty of Chemistry Rzeszów University of Technology Powstańców Warszawy 6 35 959 Rzeszów Poland

Faculty of Mechanic Radom University Stasieckiego 54 26 600 Radom Poland

Faculty of Technology Jacob of Paradies University 66 400 Gorzów Wielkopolski Poland

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