title: Robust and biodegradable polymer of cassava starch and modified natural rubber.
abstract: The application of starch based materials for packaging purposes has attracted significant interest because they are both cheap and renewable resources. The study investigated the preparation and properties of a novel biopolymer sheet produced from a blend of maleated epoxidized natural rubber (MENR) and natural rubber-g-cassava starch (NR-g-CSt). The water resistance, toluene resistance and elongation at break of the polymer blend were enhanced after the addition of the MENR compared to pristine NR-g-CSt. The maximum tensile strength and thermal stability of the NR-g-CSt/MENR blend were found in the 100:50 NR-g-CSt:MENR blend. The novel films demonstrated good biodegradability in soil.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University 99 Moo 18 Paholyothin Road, Klong-Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand; Department of Materials Science and Technology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand. Electronic address: saadriyajan@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Sa-Ad
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Riyajan
mesh_terms: D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D002365:Manihot / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D019064:Product Packaging; D012408:Rubber / Q000737:chemistry*; D013213:Starch / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013718:Tensile Strength; D013818:Thermogravimetry; D014050:Toluene / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D014050:Toluene; D013213:Starch; D012408:Rubber
keywords: Blend; Chemical modification; Grafting; Latex; Natural rubber; Reactive blending