Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy of a poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate homopolymer

Abstract

Contour maps of complex relative permittivity for a commercial poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate homopolymer reveal four distinct loss regions within 0.1-3 MHz and -17 to +145 degrees C. The losses are attributed, respectively, to carbonyl-driven local mode beta-relaxations involving methyl and ester groups, to the alpha-process associated with the glass transition, to an MWS polarisation process, and to the presence of phosphite residues. There are indications of a further individual loss associated with crystalline softening or melting. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd