Abstract
Novel plastics that are biodegradable, environmentally benign, and made from renewable natural resources are currently being researched as alternatives to traditional petroleum-based plastics. One such plastic, thermoplastic starch (TPS) is produced from starch processed at high temperatures in the presence of plasticizers, such as water and glycerol. However, because of its hydrophilic nature, TPS exhibits poor mechanical properties when exposed to environmental conditions, such as rain or humidity. The overall objective of this research work was to produce a thermoplastic starch based material with low water absorption that may be used to replace petroleum-based plastics. With a recent emergence of “green” polyethylene (GPE), sourced from renewable feedstock, it has become possible to develop novel biodegradable polymers for various applications. In this work, GPE was melt blended with starch in three different ways; reactive extrusion of GPE and starch facilitated by maleic anhydride (MAH) and dicumyl peroxide (DCP), melt blending of GPE and starch by extrusion, and melt blending of maleated polyethylene and starch by extrusion. Comprehensive testing and analysis has shown that all methods reduced water absorption significantly with some variations across the board.
Highlights
Over the past century the petroleum-based polymer industry has grown rapidly by creating materials that are cheap, easy to transform, hydrophobic, and biologically inert
If any unreacted maleic anhydride (MAH) remains after the purification it is shown by the peak at 698 cm−1, attributed to the C=C bond in Figure 5 exhibits the spectra for unreacted green polyethylene and green polyethylene extruded with MAH
Novel thermoplastic starch (TPS) formulations with green and common PE were developed through melt blending and reactive extrusion facilitated by MAH and dicumyl peroxide (DCP)
Summary
Over the past century the petroleum-based polymer industry has grown rapidly by creating materials that are cheap, easy to transform, hydrophobic, and biologically inert. Some researchers have tried to improve the water resistance of TPS by melt-blending starch with hydrophobic polymers, while maintaining the biodegradability of the overall product. Developing melt-blends with satisfactory properties depends on the ability to generate a small dispersed phase size with strong interfacial adhesion, thereby improving the stress transfer between the component phases [19] This is accomplished by using a compatibilizer that reacts with the hydroxyl groups of starch to form covalent bonds, providing interfacial adhesion [20]. An effort has been made to reduce water absorption in TPS by blending with polyethylene through three different ways; reactive extrusion of green polyethylene and starch facilitated by MAH and DCP, melt blending of green polyethylene and starch by extrusion, and melt blending of maleated polyethylene and starch by extrusion
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