title: Reactive blending of thermoplastic starch and polyethylene-graft-maleic anhydride with chitosan as compatibilizer.
abstract: Cassava starch was melt-blended with glycerol (70/30wt%/wt%) at 140°C to prepare thermoplastic starch (TPS). Chitosan (CTS) was premixed with starch and glycerol, in acidified water (lactic acid 2wt%), at 1, 5 and 10wt%/wt%. TPS/CTS was then melt-blended (160°C) with polyethylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PE-MAH). Phase determination and scanning electron microscopy indicated TPS/PE-MAH/CTS had a co-continuous morphology and CTS-induced phase inversion to give dispersed PE-MAH particles in a TPS matrix. Tensile strength at break and elongation, melt viscosity, fracture toughness and water contact angle of TPS/PE-MAH were improved by CTS incorporation. TPS/PE-MAH/CTS blends decreased the melting temperature of TPS and PE-MAH compared to the neat polymers. FTIR confirmed a reaction had occurred between amino groups (NH2) of CTS and the MAH groups of PE-MAH. This reaction and the enhanced miscibility between TPS and CTS improved the mechanical properties of the TPS/PE-MAH/CTS blend, particularly at 5wt%/wt% CTS.
authors: School of Agro-Industry, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Chiang Mai University, Mae-Hea, Mueang, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand. Electronic address: jantanasakulwong.k@gmail.com.
authors: Kittisak
authors: K
authors: Jantanasakulwong
authors: School of Agro-Industry, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Chiang Mai University, Mae-Hea, Mueang, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand.
authors: Noppol
authors: N
authors: Leksawasdi
authors: School of Agro-Industry, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Chiang Mai University, Mae-Hea, Mueang, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand.
authors: Phisit
authors: P
authors: Seesuriyachan
authors: School of Agro-Industry, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Chiang Mai University, Mae-Hea, Mueang, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand.
authors: Somchai
authors: S
authors: Wongsuriyasak
authors: School of Agro-Industry, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Chiang Mai University, Mae-Hea, Mueang, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand.
authors: Charin
authors: C
authors: Techapun
authors: Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1-S8-33, O-okayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan.
authors: Toshiaki
authors: T
authors: Ougizawa
mesh_terms: D000268:Adhesiveness; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D008299:Maleic Anhydrides / Q000737:chemistry*; D002365:Manihot / Q000737:chemistry; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000737:chemistry*; D013213:Starch / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D008299:Maleic Anhydrides; D020959:Polyethylene; D013213:Starch; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Chitosan; Maleic anhydride; Polyethylene; Reaction; Thermoplastic starch