engleski

Interfacial phenomena in material

Low density polyethylene (LDPE) is a worldwide leading material with excellent mechanical properties and unattainable low cost. Due to its non-degradability, it poses a risk to the ecosystems and exposed organism. In order to reduce the dependence on the depleting petrochemical resources and highlighted biodegradability of the material, the innovative approach is blending LDPE with biopolymers such as thermoplastic starch (TPS). Since LDPE and TPS are immiscible polymers, the usage of a compatibilizer is inevitable. The focus of this investigation was exploring effect of incorporation of a block copolymer grafted with maleic anhydride (MA) as a compatibilizer on the miscibility of the LDPE/TPS blends for improving the application properties. The miscibility of components in blend was predicted by surface free energy calculations using various models and theories. The adhesion between compatibilizer and phases in the polymer blends was predicted on the basis of the calculated adhesion parameters (interfacial surface free energy, coefficient of wetting and thermodynamic work of adhesion) obtained from the surface free energy of components. According to the values of adhesion parameters, significant interactions can be expected between the TPS and a compatibilizer, which is expected due to the formation of an ester bond confirmed by FTIR analysis. The optimal phase interactions are necessary because they are responsible for the miscibility of the components in the blend and thus to the final application properties.

LDPE, thermoplastic starch, compatibilizer, FTIR, interfacial properties

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