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Transparent low‐density polyethylene/starch nanocomposite films
Author(s) -
Inceoglu Funda,
Menceloglu Yusuf Ziya
Publication year - 2013
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/app.38811
Subject(s) - low density polyethylene , materials science , nanocomposite , starch , polyethylene , extrusion , composite material , plasticizer , montmorillonite , reactive extrusion , maleic anhydride , thermoplastic , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , polymer , copolymer , organic chemistry , chemistry , engineering
Low‐density polyethylene (LDPE)/starch nanocomposite films were prepared by melt extrusion process. The first step includes the preparation of starch–clay nanocomposite by solution intercalation method. The resultant product was then melt mixed with the main matrix, which is LDPE. Maleic anhydride‐grafted polyethylene (MAgPE), produced by reactive extrusion, was used as a compatibilizer between starch and LDPE phases. The effects of using compatibilizer, clay, and plasticizers on physico‐mechanical properties were investigated. The results indicated that the initial intercalation reaction of clay layers with starch molecules, the conversion of starch into thermoplastic starch (TPS) by plasticizers, and using MAgPE as a compatibilizer provided uniform distribution of both starch particles and clay layers, without any need of alkyl ammonium treatment, in LDPE matrix. The nanocomposite films exhibited better tensile properties compared to clay‐free ones. In addition, the transparency of LDPE film did not significantly change in the presence of TPS and clay particles. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013