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

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 rheome...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied polymer science 2013-04, Vol.128 (1), p.145-152
Main Authors: Sharif, Alireza, Aalaie, Jamal, Shariatpanahi, Homeira, Hosseinkhanli, Homayoon, Khoshniyat, Alireza
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Ball milling
biodegradation
Blends
Damage
Exact sciences and technology
High density
Machinery and processing
Materials science
mechanical properties
Moulding compound preparation. Mixing
Plasticizers
Plastics
polyethylene
Polyethylenes
Polymer industry, paints, wood
Polymers
Reproduction
starch
Starches
Technology of polymers
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary: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 starch‐grafted 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 mill‐mediated 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. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
ISSN:0021-8995
1097-4628
DOI:10.1002/app.38155