poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)

polymer

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), or PHB, is a naturally derived polyester and the most common member of the polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) family, produced through bacterial fermentation or synthesized chemically. It is a brittle, crystalline bioplastic notable for being fully biodegradable and compostable in industrial and marine environments, making it a key alternative to petroleum-based plastics where environmental persistence is a design liability. PHB sees use in packaging, agricultural films, and medical devices, though it is less common than PLA in commercial applications due to higher material costs and brittleness; engineers select it specifically when complete biodegradation within a defined timeframe, biocompatibility, or reduced fossil fuel dependency are project requirements.

biodegradable packaging filmscompostable food containersbiomedical scaffolds and implantsagricultural mulch filmsmarine and environmental remediation applicationsshort-life consumer goods

Compliance & Regulations

?UL 94?Conflict Free?RoHS?REACH?TSCA?Prop 65
Units:
siimperial
PropertyValueUnitConditionsSource
Glass Transition Temperature(Tg)
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°F——
Verified Unverified Low confidence (<80%) Link to source

Regulatory Screening

Environmental

Safety & Biocompatibility

RoHS, REACH, and Prop 65 statuses are validated against official substance lists (ECHA SVHC Candidate List, OEHHA Prop 65, RoHS Annex II). Other regulations are estimated from composition and material classification. All screening is a starting point for due diligence — always verify with your supplier before making compliance decisions.
poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) — Properties & Data | MatWorld