Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a promising substitute to petroleum-based polymers in packaging and biomedical applications provided that its melt processability and degradability are improved. A new method to control the properties of PHB by using cheap calcium stearate (CS) as a lubricant and decomposition catalyst in melt-mixed PHB-CS compounds was first used. CS is composed of a metallic cation, which promotes PHB degradation, and a hydrophobic anion that improves the compatibility with PHB and processability. An environmentally friendly melt mixing technique was employed to obtain the PHB-CS compounds. Incorporation of 0.5 or 5 wt% CS reduced the melt viscosity and molecular weight of PHB, decreased the melting temperature with up to 5 °C, the crystallization temperature with more than 25 °C, and the degradation temperature with 15 and 40 °C, respectively. In small amounts (0.05 wt%), CS improved the processability and mechanical properties of PHB. In higher amount (0.5 wt%), CS slightly improved the Young's modulus, reduced the tensile strength and enhanced degradation. A better control of thermal and mechanical properties of PHB is, thus, possible by using different CS amount and processing conditions. These results are relevant for PHB application in the context of the global transition to biodegradable packaging.

聚（3-羟基丁酸酯）（PHB）是包装和生物医学应用中石油基聚合物的有前途的替代品，前提是其熔融加工性和降解性得到改善。首次使用了一种通过使用廉价的硬脂酸钙 (CS) 作为润滑剂和熔融混合 PHB-CS 化合物中的分解催化剂来控制 PHB 性能的新方法。CS由促进PHB降解的金属阳离子和提高与PHB的相容性和加工性的疏水性阴离子组成。采用环境友好的熔融混合技术来获得 PHB-CS 化合物。加入 0.5 或 5 wt% CS 降低了 PHB 的熔体粘度和分子量，降低了熔融温度高达 5°C，结晶温度降低了 25°C 以上，降解温度降低了 15 和 40°C，分别。少量 (0.05 wt%) 的 CS 改善了 PHB 的加工性能和机械性能。在较高的量 (0.5 wt%) 中，CS 略微提高了杨氏模量，降低了拉伸强度并增强了降解。因此，通过使用不同的 CS 量和加工条件，可以更好地控制 PHB 的热性能和机械性能。在全球向可生物降解包装过渡的背景下，这些结果与 PHB 应用相关。可以通过使用不同的 CS 量和加工条件。在全球向可生物降解包装过渡的背景下，这些结果与 PHB 应用相关。可以通过使用不同的 CS 量和加工条件。在全球向可生物降解包装过渡的背景下，这些结果与 PHB 应用相关。