Molhabilidade de uma blenda polimérica da PHA, influenciada pela composição e rugosidade dos filmes produzidos

Abstract

The polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is a natural polymer belonging to the polyester class and is widely studied as a biodegradable alternative to petroleum-derived plastics. However, PHAs exhibit low mechanical strength and high moisture absorption compared to synthetic polymers. To address these limitations, this study aimed to assess the wettability of a polymer blend composed of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHVB)—a member of the PHA family—and the PX copolymer (PHAx 10007), in order to validate improvements in properties relative to the pure polymer. The research involved repeated measurements on films produced from the blend, utilizing contact profilometry and contact angle assays for data collection, followed by statistical ANOVA analysis to examine the correlation and behavior of roughness and wettability in relation to the polymer's structural integrity and homogeneity. The contact angle assay revealed increased film hydrophobicity (approximately 90°) as the PX percentage in the blend composition increased; conversely, this same trend could not be determined in the roughness assay due to divergent and non-uniform measurement values, though the results were validated against the study by (DE MORAIS, 2026).