Effect on Polymer Chain Structure Caused by the Molar Fraction of 4-Hydroxybutyrate in Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate- co -4-hydroxybutyrate)
Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate)copolymer [P(3HB-co-4HB)] is a kind of biodegradable high molecular polymer produced by bioaccumulation. Because of the good biodegradability and biocompatibility, P(3HB-co-4HB)s have attracted wide attention . At first, the intrinsic viscosity[η] in good solvent of P(3HB-co-4HB) s with varying contents of 4HB was investigated in different temperature. Second, observed the changes of crystallization gathered state caused by the varying contents of 4HB by polarizing microscope. The results show that to the P(3HB-co-4HB)s in same molecular weight, the intrinsic viscosity[η] in good solvent barely changes when the mole fractions of 4HB increase. On the other hand, the mean square end to end distances[0] of macromolecular flexible chains increase with the mole fractions of 4HB. At the same time, the states of aggregation change from spherulites to dendrites. In this investigation, we discuss the reasons of the differences in depth.