COMPARATIVE STUDY OF POLYSTYRENE MODIFIED WITH Sand apricot (SA) SEED OIL and Uvaria chamae (UC) SEED OIL

Abstract

In order to improve the utilization of polystyrene in the area of packaging, consumer electronics, building, medical, and food service disposables, it is necessary to modify some important properties. This paper focused on the comparative study of polystyrene modified with Sand apricot (SA) seed oil and Uvaria chamae(UC) seed oil. Oil from the two seed was isolated, the quality parameter determined and the comparative analysis on some mechanical properties of polystyrene blended with Sand apricot and Uvaria chamae seed oil determined.The findings on the quality of the SA and UC seed oil are as follows: oil content (10.39% and14.56%), specific gravity at 25 oC (0.931 ± 0.21 and 0.87 ± 0.10), acid value (11.083 ± 0.18mg KOH and 9.028 ± 0.32 mg KOH), iodine value (20.798± 0.40 and 10.807 ± 0.40), peroxide value (12.30 and 7.2), free fatty acid (6.30% and 4.015%), and saponification values (283.271 and 173.392). The mechanical properties of the polystyrene blend with SA and UC seed oil (PS-SA and PS-UC) at 100g were reported as follows; ultimate tensile strength (58.6 and 50.4MPa), Young modulus (1954.0 and 1986.4MPa), % elongation (13.4 and 12.3%), break load (500.6 and 300.6 N), and Shore D hardness (80.0 and 79.0), The findings revealed that the mechanical properties of PS-SA and PS-UC were highly competitive with the conventional white petroleum oil used as a plasticizer. As a recommendation, Sand apricot and Uvaria chamae seed oil should be used as a plasticizer since it is available, cheap, and environmentally friendly.