Processing and Characterization of Thermoplastic Starch / Polypropylene Blends

Authors

  • Obasi  Department of Polymer and Textile Engineering,Federal University of Technology, Owerri,Imo State, Nigeria
  • H. C.  Department of Polymer and Textile Engineering,Federal University of Technology, Owerri,Imo State, Nigeria
  • Igwe  Department of Polymer and Textile Engineering,Federal University of Technology, Owerri,Imo State, Nigeria
  • I. O.  Department of Polymer and Textile Engineering,Federal University of Technology, Owerri,Imo State, Nigeria
  • Ogbobe  Department of University Library, Federal University of Technology, Owerri,Imo State, Nigeria
  • O.  
  • Aharanwa  
  • B. C.  
  • and Egeolu  
  • F. C.  

Keywords:

Polypropylene, potato starch, PP-g-MA, tensile properties, plants, weight loss, plasticizer, plants.

Abstract

Blends of polypropylene (PP) with compatibilized and uncompatibilized plasticized potato starch (PPS) have been prepared using an injection molding machine. Glycerol was used as a plasticizer and variable amounts of plasticized potato starch were processed in the presence of polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PP-g-MA) as the compatibilizer. The addition of PPS was found to be directly proportional to the Young’s modulus and inversely related to the tensile strength and elongation at break. However, tensile properties were observed to improve on addition of PP-g-MA to the blends due to improved interfacial adhesion between PPS and PP as shown by the SEM micrographs. The percentage of water gained and weight loss of the PCPS/PP blends were lower than the PPS/PP blends indicating good interfacial adhesion. The plants germinated and grew freely indicating that no harmful effects on the plants due to biodegradation products.

References

  1. Mooney, B. P. 2009. The Second Green Revolution? Production of plant-based biodegradable plastic. Biochem J; 2009, 418, 219-232.

  2. Huang, J. C., Shetty, A.S., and Wang S.W. 1990. Biodegradable Plastics; A review. Adv. Polym. Tech., 10, 23-30.

  3. Doi, Y., and Fukuda, K. 1994. Biodegradable Plastics and Polymers. Elsevier Science B. V, 601-608.

  4. Potts, J. E. 1981. Environmentally Degradable Plastics. In:Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3rd ed., Suppl. vol., John Wiley, New York, 638-668.

  5. Whistler, R. H. 1984. History and future expectation of starch use. In Starch Chemistry and Technology, 1-9. Academic Press San Francisco.

  6. Chandra, R., and Rustgi R. 1998. Biodegradable Polymers. Prog. Polym. Sci., 23, 1273-1335.

  7. Lim, S., Jane J., Rajagopalan S., and Seib P. A. 1992. Effect of starch granule size on physical properties of starch-filled polyethylene film. Biotech. Prog., 8, 51-57.

  8. Peanasky, J. S., Long, J. M., and Wool, R. P. 1991. Percolation effects in degradable PE-Starch blends. J.Polym. Sci. Part B: Phys., 29, 565-571.

  9. Zuchowska, D., Steller, R., and Meissner, W. 1998. Structure and properties of degradable polyolefin-starch blends. Polym Degrad. Stab., 60, 471-480.

  10. Kester, J. J., and Fennema, O. R. 1986. Edible films and coatings: A review. Food Tech., 40, 47-59.

  11. Sorbal, P. J. A., Menegalli, F. C., Hubinger, M. D., and Roques, M. A. 2001. Mechanical, water vapour barrier and thermal properties of gelatin based films. Food Hydro Colloid, 15(6), 423-432.

  12. Baldwin, E. A., and Baker, R. A. 2002. Use of proteins in edible coatings for whole and minimally processed fruits and vegetables, protein-based films and coatings, CRC press, FL.

  13. Gontard, N., Guilbert, S., and Cuq, J. L. 1993. Water and glycerol as plasticizers affect mechanical and water vapour barrier properties of an edible wheat gluten film. J. Food Sci., 58, 206-211.

  14. Nikazar, M., Sarafi, B., Bonakdarpour, B., and Miluniz. 2005. Improving the biodegradability and mechanical strength of corn-starch-LDPE blends through formulation modification. Iranian Polym. J., 14(12), 1050-1057.

  15. Obasi, H. C., and Igwe, I. O. 2014. Cassava starch-mixed polypropylene biodegradable polymer: preparation characterization and effects of biodegradation products on growth of plants. Int. J. Sci. Res., 3(7), 802-807.

  16. Wu, C. 2003. Physical properties and biodegradability of maleated-polycaprolactone/starch composite. Polym. Degrad. Stab., 80, 127-134.

  17. Griffin, G. J. L. 1977. Synthetic resin sheet material. US Patent, 4021, 388.

  18. Kiatkamjornwong, S., Thakeow, O., and Sonsuk, M. 2001. Chemical modification of cassava starch for degradable polyethylene sheets. Polym. Degrad. Stab., 73, 363-375.

  19. Evangelista, R. L., Nikolov, Z. L., Wei, S., Jane, J., and Gelina, R. J. 1991.Effect of compounding and starch modification on properties of starch filled low-density PE Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 30, 1841-1846.

  20. Lee, S. J., Kim, S. H., and Kim, M. 1999. Mechanical properties and thermal degradability of degradable PE films prepared with oxidized potato starch. Food Eng. Prog., 3, 141-151.

  21. Kim, M., and Lee, S. 2002. Characteristics of cross-linked potato starch and starch-filled linear low-density. Carbo. polym., 50, 331-337.

  22. Waryat, M. R., Suryani, A., Yuliasih, I., and Jodan, S. 2013. Using of a compatibilizer to improve morphological, physical and mechanical properties of biodegradable plastic from thermoplastic starch/LLDPE blends. Int. J. Eng. Tech., 13(1), 115-122.

  23. Obasi, H. C. 2013. Tensile and biodegradable properties of extruded sorghum flour filled high density polyethylene films. Acad. Res. Int., 4(5), 78-86.

  24. Bikiaris, D., Prinos, K., Kouesopoulos, K., Vouroutzis, N., Pavlidou, E., Frangis, N., and Panayiotou, C. 1998. LDPE/plasticized starch blends containing PE-g-MA copolymer as compatibilizer. Polym. Degrad. Stab., 59, 287-291.

  25. Willet, J. L. 1994. Mechanical properties of LDPE/granular starch composite. J. Appl. polym. Sci., 54, 1485-1695.

  26. Kim, M. 2003. Evaluation of degradability of hydroxy-propylated potato starch/PE blend films. Carbo. polym., 54, 173-181.

  27. Lim, S. T. and Jane, J. L. 1992. Effect of starch granule size on physical properties of starch filled PE film. Biotech. Prog., 8, 51-57.

  28. Lee, B., Pometto, A. L., Fratzke, A., and Bailey, T. B. 1991. Biodegradation of degradable plastic PE by phanerochaete and streptomyces species. Appl. Envir. Microbiol., 57, 678 - 685.

  29. Mani, R., and Bhattacharya, M. 1998. Properties of injection molded starch/synthetic polymer blends III: Effect of amylopectin to amylose ratio in starch. Eur. Polym. J., 34, 1467-1475.

  30. St-Pierre, N., Favis, B. V. D., Ramsay, B. A., Ramsay, J. A., and Verghoogt, H. 1997. Processing and characterization of thermoplastic starch/PE blends. Polym; 38(3), 647-653.

  31. Rosa, D. S., Guedes, C. G. F., and Carvalho, C. L. 2007. Processing and thermal, mechanical and morphological characterization of post-consumer polyolefins/thermoplastic starch blends. J. Mater. Sci., 42, 551-557.

  32. Wahab, M. A., and Mottabeb, M. A. 2001. Mechanical properties and water absorption of rice starch-filled LLDPE. Korean Polym. J., 9(6), 297-302.

  33. Hanafi, I., Razif, N., Zulkifi, A., and Azura, R. 2010. Processability and miscibility of Linear Low density Polyethylene/poly (vinyl alcohol) blends: In situ compatibilization with maleic anhydride. Iranian Polym. J., 19(4), 297-308.

  34. Demir, H., Atikler, U., Balkose, D., and Tihminilioglu, F. 2006. The effect of fibre surface treatments on the tensile and water sorption properties of PP-luffa fibre composites. Comp. Part A: Appl. Sci. Manufact., 37(3), 447-456.

  35. Santiagoo, R., Ismail, H., and Hussin, K. 2011. Mechanical properties, water absorption, and swelling behaviour of rice husk powder filled PP/recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (PP/NBRr/RHP) biocomposites using silane as a coupling agent. Bio Resources, 6(4), 3714-3726.

  36. Yang, H. S., Kim, H. J., Son, J., Park, H. J., Lee, B. J. and Hwang, T. S. 2004. Rice husk flour filled PP composites, mechanical and morphological study. Compos. Struct., 63(3-4), 305-312.

  37. Sam, S. T., Ismail, H., and Ahmed, Z. 2009. Linear Low density PE/Soya powder blends containing PE-g-MA as a compatibilizer. J. Vinyl Addit. Technol., 15(4), 252-259.

  38. Rahman, R., Islam, N., and Huque, M. 2010. Influence of fibre treatment on the mechanical and morphological properties of sawdust reinforced PP composites. Compos. Part A, 18(3), 1739-1747.

  39. Ismail, H., Edyhan, M, and Wirjosentono, B. 2002. Bamboo fibre filled natural rubber composites: The effects of filler loading and bonding agents. Polym. Testing, 21(2), 139-144.

  40. Lee, H. S., Cho, D., and Han, S. O. 2008. Effect of Natural fibre surface treatments on the interfacial and mechanical properties of henequen/polypropylene biocomposites. Mircomol. Res., 16(5), 411-417.

International Journal of Scientific Research in Science, Engineering and Technology

Downloads

Published

2015-04-25

Issue

Volume 1, Issue 2, March-April-2015

Section

Research Articles

License

Copyright (c) IJSRSET

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

[1]
Obasi, H. C., Igwe, I. O., Ogbobe, O., Aharanwa, B. C., and Egeolu, F. C., " Processing and Characterization of Thermoplastic Starch / Polypropylene Blends, International Journal of Scientific Research in Science, Engineering and Technology(IJSRSET), Print ISSN : 2395-1990, Online ISSN : 2394-4099, Volume 1, Issue 2, pp.7-13, March-April-2015.