The use of mixtures of synthetic and natural polymers is a potential option to reduce the pollution by plastic waste. In this work, the method for the chemical modification of chitosan with poly(lactic acid) was developed; then, the preparation of films of blends of polyethylene and chitosan-poly(lactic acid) produced by an extrusion method using polyethylene-graft maleic anhydride as a compatibilizer. It was possible to obtain films with a maximum content of 20 wt% and 30 wt%, chitosan, with and without compatibilizer, respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis showed a homogeneous surface on all films. The addition of the compatibilizer had a significant effect on the mechanical properties of the films, such as an increase in Young’s modulus and a decrease in the elongation at break; additionally, the compatibilizer promotes thermal degradation in a single step and gives the film a slight increase in thermal resistance. These results are attributed to an improved interaction in the interface of polyethylene and chitosan-poly(lactic acid), promoted by the compatibilizer.

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Development of extruded films composed of biopolymers blended with synthetic polymers aims to minimize the environmental impact of plastic waste‐materials and lead to the sustainable plastic industry. To produce biodegradable polymeric blends, the weight content of biopolymers must be maximum without compromising the performance properties of the extruded films. Using a solvent‐free extrusion method, films composed of polypropylene, poly(lactic‐acid), and Chitosan, can be obtained with the use of polypropylene‐graft‐maleic anhydride and glycerol as compatibilizer and plasticizer, respectively. Extruded films with up to a 50 wt% content of biopolymers show acceptable thermal and mechanical properties, where the use of compatibilizer improves the processing characteristics and homogeneous distribution of chitosan throughout the films. Therefore, the extruded films can be considered as alternatives to conventional synthetic‐polymer films, due to their acceptable mechanical and thermal properties with direct potential applications in extrusion‐method mass production of biodegradable polymers.

Palabras clave: extrusión, propiedades mecánicas, espectroscopía de infrarrojo, degradación en tierra RESUMEN La utilización de polímeros sintéticos como materia prima para empaques desechables genera altos volúmenes de contaminantes persistentes en el ambiente. Una manera de resolver el problema del acumulamiento de plásticos, es la producción de materiales poliméricos biodegradables. En este trabajo se presenta la preparación y pruebas de degradación acelerada de películas preparadas a partir de mezclas de polietileno lineal de baja densidad con quitosano, utilizando anhídrido maléico como compatibilizante. Las películas de polietileno con un 15 % de quitosano perdieron 40 % del valor inicial de resistencia a la tensión después de 360 h de degradación acelerada. En contraste con el 20 % de pérdida que presentó la película de polietileno puro durante el mismo periodo. Las películas con quitosano, además, redujeron 13 % de su peso después de estar bajo tierra de vivero durante 180 días, un valor considerablemente mayor que el 0.05 % que presentó la película de polietileno. La presencia de anhídrido maléico como compatibilizante favoreció un ligero aumento en la degradación de las películas de polietileno con quitosano.Key words: extrusion, mechanical analysis, infrared spectroscopy, degradation in soil ABSTRACTThe use of synthetic polymers as material for the production of disposable packaging, generates high volumes of persistent environmental pollutants. One way to solve the problem of the accumulation of plastics is the production of biodegradable polymeric materials. This work presents the preparation and testing of the degradation capability of films prepared from blends of linear low density polyethylene with chitosan, using maleic anhydride as a compatibilizer. Polyethylene films with 15 % chitosan, lost 40 % of the initial values of tensile strength after 360 h of accelerated degradation, in contrast Rev. Int. Contam. Ambie. 33 (Especial sobre Ingeniería Ambiental. Universidad Estatal de