Abstract: Poly(vinyl chloride)/dioctyl phthalate/poly(hydroxyalkanoates)(PVC/DOP/PHA) blends were prepared by melt blending. The mechanical property, melt flow behavior, and morphology of the blends were studied. The tensile strength of the blends increased with increasing PHA content and decreasing DOP content, while the elongation at break was increased first and then decreased, giving a maximum value at a PHA content of 10.7 %. In PVC/PHA system, the mechanical properties, notably the toughness, and the melt flow index increased obviously at high PHA content.

Key words: poly(vinyl chloride), polyhydroxyalkanoates, mechanical property, melt fluidity