Use of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) as compatibilizer in LDPE/thermoplastic tapioca starch blends

Sailaja, RRN and Chanda, Manas (2002) Use of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) as compatibilizer in LDPE/thermoplastic tapioca starch blends. In: Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 86 (12). 3126 - 3134.

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Abstract

Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) (EVOH) was used as a compatibilizer to make blends of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and plasticized starch (TS). The tensile properties and impact strength were measured and compared with those of neat LDPE. The morphology of the blend specimens, both fractured and unfractured, was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Comparison of the properties showed that the impact strength of the blend improves significantly by the addition of a compatibilizer even with a high TS loading of 40 and 50% (by weight). A high elongation at break almost matching that of neat polyethylene was also obtained. The blend morphology of the etched specimens revealed fine dispersion of the starch in the polyethylene matrix, while the fracture surface morphology clearly indicate that the failure of compatibilized blends occurs mainly by the ductile mode.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Journal of Applied Polymer Science
Publisher:	John Wiley & Sons
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to John Wiley & Sons
Keywords:	blends; compatibilization; polyethylene
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Chemical Engineering
Date Deposited:	29 May 2007
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 04:38
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/11079

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