An overview of the mechanical and thermal properties of the synthetic plastics and PHA homo- and copolymers222–224a.
| Polymers | Mechanical properties | Thermal properties | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength (MPa) | Percentage elongation (%) | Crystallinity (%) | Melting temperature (°C) | Glass transition temperature (°C) | |
| PHB | 40 | 6 | 60 | 177 | 2 |
| P4HB | 104 | 1000 | 45 | 150 | −51 |
| PHBV | 25 | 20 | 56 | 145 | −7.25 |
| PHBHHx | 21 | 400 | 34 | 127 | −1 |
| P3HB-co-16 mol% 4-HB | 26 | 444 | NA | 150 | −7 |
| P3HB-co-64 mol% 4-HB | 17 | 591 | 15 | 50 | −35 |
| P3HB-co-78 mol% 4-HB | 42 | 1120 | 17 | 49 | −37 |
| P3HB-co-82 mol% 4-HB | 58 | 1320 | 18 | 52 | −39 |
| P3HB-co-90 mol% 4-HB | 65 | 1080 | 28 | 50 | −42 |
| P3HB-co-3 mol% 3-HV | 38 | NA | NA | 170 | 8 |
| P3HB-co-9 mol% 3-HV | 37 | NA | NA | 162 | 6 |
| P3HB-co-14 mol% 3-HV | 35 | NA | NA | 150 | 4 |
| P3HB-co-20 mol% 3-HV | 20 | 50 | NA | 145 | −1 |
| P3HB-co-25 mol% 3-HV | 30 | NA | NA | 137 | −6 |
| P3HB-co-10 mol% 3HHx | 21 | NA | NA | 127 | −1 |
| P3HB-co-15 mol% 3HHx | 23 | NA | NA | 115 | NA |
| P3HB-co-17 mol% 3HHx | 20 | NA | NA | 120 | NA |
| PP | 38 | 400 | 50–70 | 176 | −10 |
| LDPE | 10 | 620 | 35–55 | 130 | −30 |
| HDPE | 19 | 576 | NA | 108–134 | −110 |
a
NA, not available. Abbreviations: PHB, polyhydroxybutyrate; P4HB, poly(4-hydroxybutyrate); PHBHHx, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate); P3HB, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate); PP, poly(propylene); LDPE, low-density poly(ethylene); HDPE, high-density poly(ethylene).