Abstract
In this study, blends based on a high density polyethylene (HDPE) and chitosan (CS) were successfully prepared by melt processing, in a laboratory internal mixer. The CS biopolymer content effect (up to maximum of 40%), and, the addition of bentonite clay modified with quaternary ammonium salt (CTAB) impregnated chitosan as a compatibilizing agent, on the properties of the blends was analyzed by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analyses (TG), tensile strength, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The use of clay modified with CTAB impregnated chitosan, employing a method developed here, improved the compatibility of HDPE with chitosan, and therefore the thermal and some of the mechanical properties were enhanced, making HDPE/chitosan blends suitable candidates for food packaging. It was possible to obtain products of synthetic polymer, HDPE, with natural polymer, chitosan, using a method very used industrially, with acceptable and more friendly properties to the environment, when compared to conventional synthetic polymers. In addition, due to the possibility of impregnated chitosan with quaternary ammonium salt exhibit higher antibacterial activity than neat chitosan, the HDPE/chitosan/organobentonite blends may be potentially applied in food containers to favor the preservation of food for a longer time in comparison to conventional materials.
Highlights
Polyethylene (PE) is a common cheap polymer with gas and humidity barrier properties, good thermal stability, and excellent chemical resistance, and is used for short life products, like biaxially oriented films for packaging, blown molded bottles for food, carrier bags, food wrapping material, and so on [1,2,3]
high density polyethylene (HDPE)/chitosan blends with a maximum chitosan content of 40% (w/w) were prepared by melt mixing and organobentonite synthesized with quaternary ammonium salt impregnated chitosan, by precipitation and evaporation methods, was used as a compatibilizing agent
XRD data, the chitosan was successfully modified with ammonium trimethyl cetyl bromide salt (CTAB), and between the methods that were employed in the chitosan modification, the evaporation method was more efficient
Summary
Polyethylene (PE) is a common cheap polymer with gas and humidity barrier properties, good thermal stability, and excellent chemical resistance, and is used for short life products, like biaxially oriented films for packaging, blown molded bottles for food, carrier bags, food wrapping material, and so on [1,2,3]. Thisproperties, alternative and could contribute to minimize environmental compared to non-bio-based polymers. This alternative could contribute to minimize environmental pollution, and, whereas chitosan has strong antimicrobial and antifungal activities, as reported by pollution, and, whereas chitosan hasofstrong antimicrobial and the antifungal activities, as reported for by several researchers, the conduction this study may enable extension of PE applications several researchers, the conduction of this study may enable the extension of PE applications for packaging material [13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26]
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