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Starch as antiblocking agent in breathable polyurethane membranes
Author(s) -
Pecku Suven,
van der Merwe Thilo L.,
Rolfes Heidi,
Focke Walter W.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of vinyl and additive technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.295
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1548-0585
pISSN - 1083-5601
DOI - 10.1002/vnl.20132
Subject(s) - materials science , starch , polyurethane , membrane , composite material , extrusion , permeability (electromagnetism) , layer (electronics) , chemical engineering , particle (ecology) , chemistry , organic chemistry , biochemistry , engineering , oceanography , geology
A breathable polyurethane membrane was manufactured by using a multilayer film extrusion technique. In this process, the monolithic membrane is blown as the inner layer of a three‐layer film in which the outer support layers are polyethylene‐based. The neat membrane surface was unacceptably sticky. It was found that starch was a suitable antiblocking agent outperforming mineral fillers. However, starch incorporation decreased the membrane permeability towards moisture. The experimental permeability results are consistent with the predictions of the Maxwell model for a randomly dispersed, impermeable spherical filler. Fitting the Wagner‐Sillar model indicated a near‐spherical particle shape and confirmed the impermeable nature of the starch particles. This unexpected result can be rationalized by assuming a highly crystalline or glassy nature for the starch domains. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 13:215–220, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers