PHBV/ground bone meal and pumice powder engineered biobased composite materials for construction
View Patent ↗A composite material includes a matrix composed of a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polymer and a filler composed of particles dispersed in the matrix. The particles are composed of naturally-derived materials (e.g., ground bone meal or pumice powder), have a microporous microstructure, have a low hygroscopic expansion, and are less than 1.0 mm in size. Preferably, the matrix and the filler together constitute 100% by weight of the composite material, and at most 30% by volume of the composite material is consumed by the filler. The composite material may take the form of an anaerobically biodegradable article of manufacture such as a building material a coating of a building material or other article.
1. A composite material comprising:
a) a matrix composed of a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polymer; and
b) a filler composed of particles dispersed in the matrix;
wherein the particles have diameters within the range 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm;
wherein the particles are composed of ground bone meal.
2. The composite material of claim 1 wherein the matrix and the filler together constitute at least 99% by weight of the composite material.
3. The composite material of claim 1 wherein the filler consumes at most 30% by volume of the composite material.
4. The composite material of claim 1 wherein the filler consumes between 15% and 25% by volume of the composite material.
5. The composite material of claim 1 wherein the composite material is biodegradable.
6. The composite material of claim 1 wherein the PHA is Poly (B-hydroxybutyrate)-co-poly(B-hydroxyvalerate).