Fabrication of a novel polyethylene/starch blend through mediation of a high‐energy ball milling process: Mechanical properties and formation mechanism

Abstract

High-energy ball milling (HEBM) was performed before melt mixing to fabricate a novel blend containing 85 wt % of a high density polyethylene (HDPE) and 15 wt % of a maize starch, using neither compatibilizer nor plasticizer materials in the blend formulation. Scanning electron microscopy and rheometry results revealed a strong interface between the two phases of the blend. Formation of the interface with high strength was ascribed to the grafting reactions, taking place between the phases during the HEBM process, and corroborated by Fourier transform infrared characterizations. A possible formation mechanism for the starchgrafted polyethylene was proposed based on the measurements and comprehensive analysis. Interestingly enough, when compared to HDPE mixtures which contained the same amount of the starch, but were made only by conventional melt blending, the ball millmediated sample showed superior mechanical and biodegradation properties. These properties enhancements were related to both the HDPE/starch strong interface and the damaged starch originated by the mechanical action of the milling process.

Functional and Antioxidant Properties of Plastic Bottle Caps Incorporated with BHA or BHT

“…The FT-IR spectra of the pure HDPE cap and composite BHT and BHA caps at different concentrations are presented in Figure 4 b,c. Characteristic peaks of pure HDPE (2917, 2849, 1473, and 719 cm −1 ) were comparable to previous findings [ 31 ]. The strength of the bond in the composite caps was evaluated to assess the compatibility between different concentrations of HDPE antioxidants.…”

Polyethylene‐g‐starch nanoparticle biocomposites: Physicochemical properties and biodegradation studies

“…The peaks at 2,928 cm −1 (CH stretching of ring CH 3 ), 1,645 cm −1 (δ(OH) bending of water), 1,458 cm −1 (δ(CH) bending of CH 2 ), and 1,352 cm −1 (CC stretching) attributes to the NS. Also, the peaks at 1,120 cm −1 (CO stretching of COH), and 1,022 and 931 cm −1 (CO stretching of COC) attributes to the anhydrous glucose ring of NS .…”

“…The peaks at 2,928 cm 21 (CAH stretching of ring CH 3 ), 1,645 cm 21 (d(OAH) bending of water), 1,458 cm 21 (d(CAH) bending of CH 2 ), and 1,352 cm 21 (CAC stretching) attributes to the NS. Also, the peaks at 1,120 cm 21 (CAO stretching of CAOAH), and 1,022 and 931 cm 21 (CAO stretching of CAOAC) attributes to the anhydrous glucose ring of NS [4,16,18,19,47,48]. Figure 2b(D-H) illustrates the spectra of LMNS biocomposites, which shows all characteristic peaks of LDPE and NS.…”

“…Various studies on starch/LDPE blends and composites have revealed poor mechanical property due to the incompatibility of starch with LDPE. The least compatibility is owing to the nonpolar and polar character of hydrophobic polyethylene and hydrophilic starch, respectively [11,[15][16][17][18][19]. Compatibilizers are incorporated in starch/LDPE blends to improve its compatibility.…”

Enabling a high capacity and long cycle life for nano-Si anodes by building a stable solid interface with a Li+-conducting polymer

“…The ball milling method was chosen to embed Si nanoparticles in the PBT matrix because of its simplicity to enable a uniform dispersion of rigid nanoparticles in ductile polymers, as used frequently in the previous fabrication of a wide range of polymer nanocomposites such as nanober-strengthened polymers and nano-alloy/polymer composites. [26][27][28][29] Fig. 1a shows the morphological features of the Si/PBT composite.…”