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Rheological study of recycled polypropylene–starch blends

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Abstract

Blends of recycled polypropylene (PP) and starch (S) with the compositions polypropylene 83 wt%–starch 17 wt% (PP83/S17) (blend 1a), polypropylene 68.8 wt%–starch 31.2 wt% (PP 68.8/S 31.2) (blend 2a) and polypropylene 89.5 wt%–starch 10.5 wt% (PP 89.5/S 10.5) (blend 3a) were synthesized. Maleated polypropylene (MAPP) was used as a compatibilizer. The compositions of the compatibilized blends were PP73/S15/MAPP12 (blend 1b), PP55/S25/MAPP20 (blend 2b) and PP85/S10/MAPP5 (blend 3b). The occurrence of a reaction between MAPP and starch was studied using Fourier transform infrared analysis. Thermal and rheological properties such as the complex viscosity, storage and loss modulus of the blends with a compatibilizer were found to be higher than those of the blends without a compatibilizer. The compatibilized and uncompatibilized blends, as well as recycled PP, were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis and cone-and-plate rheometry. The storage and loss modulus values of blend 3b were observed to be the best. The best compatibilizing effect was exhibited by blend 3b at a loading of 5 wt% MAPP because this compatibilizer content yielded the highest complex viscosity and visco-elastic behavior. The presence of a functional compatibilizer enhanced the interactions between starch and recycled PP, which was confirmed by a rise in the melt viscosity, storage modulus and thermal stability. These blends were also characterized in terms of their water uptake by performing water absorption tests. Blend 2b containing 20 % MAPP was observed to absorb the maximum amount of water at 25 °C.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the research administration of Kuwait University for providing funds from the project EC 01/11 to carry out this research work. The authors are also grateful to the research department of Kuwait University for allowing rheological analyses to be conducted at the Kuwait University Nanotechnology Research Facility GE 01/07 (KUNRF). The authors are also grateful to the research department of Kuwait University for allowing us to carry out FTIR analysis at the Kuwait University Petroleum Refining and Petrochemical Research (PRP) Center GE (03/08).

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  1. Chemical Engineering Department, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 5969, 13060, Safat, Kuwait

    Adam Al-Mulla, Khaled Alfadhel, Gadeer Qambar & Habib Shaban

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  1. Adam Al-Mulla
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  2. Khaled Alfadhel
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  3. Gadeer Qambar
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  4. Habib Shaban
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Correspondence to Adam Al-Mulla.

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Al-Mulla, A., Alfadhel, K., Qambar, G. et al. Rheological study of recycled polypropylene–starch blends. Polym. Bull. 70, 2599–2618 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-013-0977-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-013-0977-1

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