Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Rheological and mechanical properties of polypropylene/thermoplastic starch blend

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Polymer Bulletin Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Starch as an inexpensive and renewable source has been used as a filler for environmentally friendly plastics for about two decades. In order to improve the compatibility between hydrophilic starch granules and hydrophobic polypropylene (PP), glycerol used as a plasticizer for starch to enhance the dispersion and the interfacial affinity in thermoplastic starch (TPS)/PP blend. In this study, PP was melt blended with thermoplastic starch (TPS) using a single screw extrusion process and molded using injection molding process to investigate the rheological and mechanical properties of these blends. TPS viscosity measurements were performed on the single screw extruder. Rheological properties were studied using a capillary rheometer and the Bagley’s correction was performed. Mechanical analysis (stress–strain) was performed using Testometric M350-10KN. The rheological properties showed that the viscosity of TPS decreases with increasing glycerol content in TPS. Also, it was found that PP/TPS blends are pseudo plastic in nature and the flow activation energy of the blends is greater than that of PP. Mechanical results showed that strain at break of the blends is lower than that of PP, whereas the Young’s modulus of the blends is higher than that of PP.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Liu H, Xie F, Yu L, Chen L, Li L (2009) Thermal processing of starch-based polymers. Prog Polym Sci 34:1348–1368

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Carvalho AJF, Job AE, Alves N, Curvelo AAS, Gandini A (2003) Thermoplastic starch/natural rubber blends. Carbohydr Polym 53:95–99

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Gonzalez FJ, Ramasy BA, Favis BD (2004) Rheological and thermal properties of thermoplastic starch with high glycerol content. Carbohydr Polym 58:139–147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Rosa DS, Guedes CGF, Carvalho CL (2007) Processing and thermal, mechanical and morphological characterization of post-consumer polyolefins/thermoplastic starch blends. J Mater Sci 42:551–557

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Teixeira EM, Roz Da, Carvalho AJF, Curvelo AAS (2007) The effect of glycerol/sugar/water and water mixtures on the plasticization of thermoplastic cassava starch. Carbohydr Polym 69:619–624

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bourtoom T (2008) Plasticizer effect on the properties of biodegradable blend film from rice starch–chitosan. Songklanakarin J Sci Technol 30:149–165

    Google Scholar 

  7. Yang JH, Yu JG, Ma XF (2006) A novel plasticizer for the preparation of thermoplastic starch. Chin Chem Lett 17:133–136

    Google Scholar 

  8. Yang JH, Yu JG, Ma XF (2008) Preparation and properties of ethylenebisformamide plasticized potato starch (EPTPS). Carbohydr Polym 63:218–223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Yang JH, Yu JG, Ma XF (2006) Study on the properties of ethylenebisformamide and sorbitol plasticized corn starch (ESPTPS). Carbohydr Polym 66:110–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Wang N, Yu J, Chang P, Ma X (2008) Influence of formamide and water on the properties of thermoplastic starch/poly(lactic acid) blends. Carbohydr Polym 71:109–118

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ma XF, Yu JG, Wan JJ (2006) Urea and ethanolamine as a mixed plasticizer for thermoplastic starch. Carbohydr Polym 64:267–273

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Ma X, Yu J (2004) The plasticizers containing amide groups for thermoplastic starch. Carbohydr Polym 57:197–203

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Auras R, Harte B, Selke S (2004) An overview of polylactides as packaging materials. Macromol Biosci 4:835–864

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Gonzalez FJ, Ramsay BA, Favis BD (2003) High performance LDPE/thermoplastic starch blends: a sustainable alternative to pure polyethylene. Polymer 44:1517–1526

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Salcido CS, Gonzalez FJ, Hernandez ML, Esquivel JC (2008) Effect of morphology on the biodegradation of thermoplastic starch in LDPE/TPS blends. Polym Bull 60:677–688

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Rosa DS, Bardi MAG, Machado LDB, Dias DB, Silva LGA, Kodama Y (2009) Influence of thermoplastic starch plasticized with biodiesel glycerol on thermal properties of PP blends. J Them Anal Calorim 97:565–570

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Mihai M, Huneault MA, Favis BD (2007) Foaming of polystyrene/thermoplastic starch blends. J Cell Plast 43:215–236

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Schlemmer D, Sales M, Resck IS (2009) Degradation of different polystyrene/thermoplastic starch blends buried in soil. Carbohydr Polym 75:58–62

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Schlemmer D, Oliveira ER, Sales M (2007) Polystyrene/thermoplastic starch blends with different plasticizers, preparation and thermal characterization. J Them Anal Calorim 87:635–638

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Pimentel T, Duraes J, Drummond A, Schlemmer D, Falcao R, Salas M (2007) Preparation and characterization of blends of recycled polystyrene with cassava starch. J Mater Sci 42:7530–7536

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Han CD (2007) Rheology and processing of polymeric materials (Polymer Rheology). Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  22. Bagley EB (1957) End corrections in the capillary flow of polyethylene. J Appl Phys 28:624–627

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Sinthavathavorn W, Nithitanakul M, Grady B, Mangaraphan R (2009) Melt rheology and die swell of PA6/LDPE blends by using lithium ionomer as a compatibilizer. Polym Bull 63:23–35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Xu S, Zhu L, Xie J, Jiang M (1999) Melt rheology of compatibilized polystyrene/low density polyethylene blends. Polym Int 48:1113–1120

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Willet JL (1994) Mechanical properties of LDPE/granular starch composites. J Appl Polym Sci 54:1685–1695

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Laboratory of Materials Rheology (LMR), University of Damascus, P.O. Box 31513, Damascus, Syria

    Mosab Kaseem, Kotiba Hamad & Fawaz Deri

Authors
  1. Mosab Kaseem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kotiba Hamad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fawaz Deri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mosab Kaseem.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kaseem, M., Hamad, K. & Deri, F. Rheological and mechanical properties of polypropylene/thermoplastic starch blend. Polym. Bull. 68, 1079–1091 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-011-0611-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-011-0611-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation