Abstract
Cassava starch filled linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) films are made in order to make plastics which environmentally friendly. The use of compatibilizer ethylene - acrylic ester - maleic anhydride polymerized is needed to obtain a compatible mixture of starch which is hydrophilic and LLDPE which is hydrophobic. In this study LLDPE films obtained were tested for tensile strength and elongation before and after accelerated aging and density. Melt flow index (MFI) of the film was also measured to determine the rheological properties. Crystallinity has been done by an X-Ray diffraction. The results showed that the addition of thermoplastic starch tended to reduce the tensile strength, elongation, and MFI values but increase the density of LLDPE films. The aging process at a temperature of 70°C ± 2°C for 168 hours ± 2 hours tends to increase the tensile strength but decrease the extension of the break.
Highlights
The development of biodegradable plastics from natural polymers is emerging due to problems associated with non-biodegradable plastics wastes all over the world
linier low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) is a synthetic polymer that is generally used for packaging due to its flexibility and elasticity, allowing the preparation of thinner plastics film compared to other polyolefins
Experimental equipment Internal mixer Haake Rheomix was used for cocompounding process, hydraulic press was used for preparing plastics film, Universal Testing Machine (UTM) Tinius Olsen-H25K was used for the determination of tensile strength before and after stability test at elevated temperature
Summary
The development of biodegradable plastics from natural polymers is emerging due to problems associated with non-biodegradable plastics wastes all over the world To this end, one of prospective materials that have been widely investigated is cassava starch. Tanetrungroj and Prachayawarakorn (2015) and Nguyen et al (2016) reported the co-compounding between starch and low-density polyethylene. The starch composition in the co-compound is less than 50% Another prospective polyolefin for the development of biodegradable plastics is linier low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). Co-compounding between LLDPE and cassava starch results in biodegradable plastics composite (Nguyen et al, 2016). LLDPE is co-compounded with cassava starch, using ethylene acrylic ester maleic anhydride terpolymer as compatibilizer. Different from the previous publication, here we report the physical properties, i.e. density, melt flow index, and crystallinity, of the co-compounds as a function of starch content, as well as the stability of the co-compound at elevated temperature (70 °C)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
