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How the compatibility between polyethylene and thermoplastic starch can be improved by adding organic acids?

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Abstract

Thermoplastic starch (TPS) can be added to a synthetic polymer, including linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), as a low-cost renewable and biodegradable source, to reduce the PE content. Nevertheless, this mixture leads to a mechanical performance decrease due to the immiscibility between both polymers. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of three different organic acids (3% phr): citric, capric, and palmitic on LLDPE/TPS blends, with a mass ratio of 70/30. The introduction of capric or palmitic acid strengthened TPS and LLDPE interfacial adhesion and improved the mechanical properties of the blends. The glass transition of the glycerol-rich phase (measured by DMA) occurs at higher temperatures for LLDPE/TPS/CITRIC blends, suggesting a plasticizer effect of this acid. It also could be seen by SEM, the images showed that improvements in the compatibility between the immiscible components were achieved by capric or palmitic acid incorporation. TPS’s incorporation had increased the water absorption because of its hydrophilic characteristic; however, acid incorporation reduced this property. In relation to colorimetric aspects, all blends had loss of brightness, but the ones with citric acid were darker, presenting higher color change than the blends with others acids.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). The authors acknowledge the Polymeric Materials Lab (LAPOL), the Chemical Lab (K212), SIBRATEC and the post graduated program of Materials Engineering (PPGEM).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Polymeric Materials Lab, Materials Engineering Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, P.O. Box 15090, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil

    Andréa Bercini Martins, Ana Kelly Cattelan & Ruth Marlene Campomanes Santana

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  1. Andréa Bercini Martins
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  2. Ana Kelly Cattelan
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  3. Ruth Marlene Campomanes Santana
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Correspondence to Andréa Bercini Martins.

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Martins, A.B., Cattelan, A.K. & Santana, R.M.C. How the compatibility between polyethylene and thermoplastic starch can be improved by adding organic acids?. Polym. Bull. 75, 2197–2212 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-017-2147-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-017-2147-3

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