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LDPE/starch blends compatibilized with PE‐ g ‐MA copolymers
Author(s) -
Bikiaris D.,
Panayiotou C.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4628(19981121)70:8<1503::aid-app9>3.0.co;2-#
Subject(s) - copolymer , low density polyethylene , materials science , starch , polymer science , compatibilization , composite material , polymer blend , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , polymer , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
In the present study, low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) and plasticized starch (PLST) blends, containing different percentages of PLST, were prepared. In these blends, two different polyethylene/maleic anhydride graft (PE‐ g ‐MA) copolymers containing 0.4 and 0.8 mol % anhydride groups, respectively, were added as compatibilizers at 10 wt % PLST. The compatibilization reaction was followed by FTIR spectroscopy. The morphology of the blends was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that as the amount of anhydride groups in the copolymers increases a finer dispersion of PLST in the LDPE matrix is achieved. This is reflected in the mechanical properties of the blends and especially in the tensile strength. The blends compatibilized with the PE‐ g ‐MA copolymer containing 0.8 mol % anhydride groups have a higher tensile strength, which in all blends, even in those containing 20 and 30 wt % PLST, is similar to that of pure LDPE. The biodegradation of the blends followed the exposure to activated sludge. It was found that the compatibilized blends have only a slightly lower biodegradation rate compared to the uncompatibilized blends. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 70: 1503–1521, 1998