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Processing and thermal, mechanical and morphological characterization of post-consumer polyolefins/thermoplastic starch blends

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Abstract

Mixtures of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP), both post-consumer polymers were blended with thermoplastic starch (TPS). Corn starch plastification was carried out by extrusion with glycerin addition. The behaviour of TPS produced was investigated in the processing and thermal, mechanical and morphology characterization of post-consumer HDPE/PP blends (100/0, 75/25, and 0/100 wt.%) in different proportions of TPS (30%, 40% and 50% wt.%) by melting flow index (MFI), tensile property measurements, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The addition of TPS reduced the MFI of PP and increased of HDPE and HDPE/PP blends. TPS also decreased the tensile strength and elongation at break, and increased the rigidity of the materials. SEM showed separation of phase between the poliolefins and TPS.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Cooperativa de Profissionais que Desenvolve Trabalho com Materiais Recicláveis Tietê and Corn Products Brasil for supplying the materials. This work was supported, respectively. This work was supported by CNPq (processes 304577/2004-9 and 477942/2003-2), and by the Universidade São Francisco. The SEM work was done with the JSM-5900LV microscope in the Laboratório de Microscopia Eletrônica, Laboratório Nacional de Luz Síncrotron (LME/LNLS), Campinas, SP, Brazil.

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Rosa, D.S., Guedes, C.G.F. & Carvalho, C.L. Processing and thermal, mechanical and morphological characterization of post-consumer polyolefins/thermoplastic starch blends. J Mater Sci 42, 551–557 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-1049-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-1049-9

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