ABSTRACT

The methods of DSC and IR spectroscopy were used to study various blends of poly(3-hydroxybu-tyrate) with ethylene-propylene copolymer rubber (EP). When the weight fractions of the initial polymers are equal, a phase inversion takes place; as the blends are enriched with EP, the degree of crystallinity of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) decreases. In blends, the degradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) begins at a lower temperature compared to the pure polymer and the thermooxidative activity of the ethylene-propylene copolymer in the blend decreases in comparison with the pure copolymer.