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The effect of rice husks and mTiO2 on the thermal properties of LLDPE/RH/mTiO2 biocomposites

Petroleum-based products as Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) are most commonly used in packaging of products like food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and detergents because of his low cost, good mechanical properties, easy processing and flexibility. However the lack of LLDPE as non- degradable packaging material has a major impact on environmental pollution.During the last few decades, petroleum-based products because of improper management and disposal practice cause serious environmental pollution problems that could persist for centuries. This has raised growing concern about degradable polymers and promoted develop of new synthetic plastics with plants (biopolymers) which can be biodegradable and may replace currently used plastics at least in some of the fields. Rice husk (RH) is one of the major agricultural residues produced as a byproduct during the rice milling process and it can be widely used due to its properties. The incorporation of RH into polymer matrices provides advantageous characteristics, such as biodegradability, low cost, light weight, toughness, and resistance to weathering. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of the RH content and mTiO2 on the thermal properties of LLDPE. In addition to RH, rutile (mTiO2) was added due to its antibacterial and photocatalityc properties as well as resistance to high temperatures. LLDPE/RH/mTiO2 biocomposites were prepared by mixing RH in content of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 wt % and 5 wt % of mTiO2 in the neat LLDPE in a Brabender mixer. By DSC techniques phase transitions, TGA technique the thermal stability while by DMA technique viscoelastic properties of the LLDPE/RH/mTiO2 biocomposites were obtained with the respect of RH content and addition of mTiO2. According to DSC results for LLDPE/RH/mTiO2 biocomposites changes in the melting (Tm) and crystallisation (Tc) temperature indicated that there was some degree of interaction between LLDPE, RH and mTiO2. The TGA results show that the LLDPE is more thermally stable with addition of mTiO2. The viscoelastic properties were improved with the addition of mTiO2.

Linear low density polyethylene, rice husks, mTiO2, biocomposites, thermal properties

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