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Accelerated and environmental weathering studies on polyethylene–starch blend films
Author(s) -
Sastry P. Krishna,
Satyanarayana D.,
Mohan Rao D. V.
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(19981212)70:11<2251::aid-app19>3.0.co;2-1
Subject(s) - polyethylene , starch , plasticizer , materials science , degradation (telecommunications) , polymer , composite material , biodegradation , vegetable oil , weathering , polymer chemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry , geology , telecommunications , geomorphology , computer science
Biodegradable polymers are desirable for a variety of applications, such as in packaging, agriculture, and medicine. Polyethylene (PE) blended with starch is already found to be a potential candidate to replace nondegradable thermoplastics in the areas of packaging. Films of polyethylene (PE)–starch blends with and without vegetable oil as a compatibilizer were prepared. The degradation of the films under thermooxidative treatment, ultraviolet light exposure, high temperature, high humidity, and natural ambience (soil burial) were monitored. It is seen that vegetable oil as an additive has a dual role: as a plasticizer, it improves the film quality; as a prooxidant, it accelerates degradation of the film. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 70: 2251–2257, 1998