Effect of chitosan addition on the properties of low-density polyethylene blend as potential bioplastic

Abstract

Plastics based on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) blends generally have limited miscibility, and it is difficult to obtain a homogeneous blend. Although they show excellent properties, their thermal degradation rate is a concern. This work aims to realize a homogeneous blend with higher chitosan concentration, thus expected to increase its degradation properties. An extrusion technique successfully synthesized LDPE and chitosan blends. The mixtures were prepared by adding maleic anhydride (MA) and tert-butyl peroxybenzoate (TBPB) as a compatibilizer and initiator, respectively. The addition of MA and TBPB resulted in homogeneous blends and using chitosan concentration of 40 %wt resulted in better tensile strength and elongation at break. The water uptake increased along with chitosan concentration in the blends. The thermal behavior analysis of the blends conducted by simultaneous TG/DTA revealed that the increase of chitosan concentration tends to improve the blend's thermal degradation slightly. Moreover, chitosan addition resulted in approximately a hundred times larger biodegradability compared to plastics based on LDPE alone.

Synthesis of a Novel Chitosan/Basil Oil Blend and Development of Novel Low Density Poly Ethylene/Chitosan/Basil Oil Active Packaging Films Following a Melt-Extrusion Process for Enhancing Chicken Breast Fillets Shelf-Life

“…and a significant increase in tensile stress values recorded by increasing the CS concentration. Thus, the mechanical properties reported in this paper are similar to those reported recently by Kusumastuti et al [ 9 ]. This fact indicates the successful use of the BO as a compatibilizer and implies the good dispersion of the CS_BO blend in the LDPE matrix.…”

“…In these studies [ 10 , 11 , 13 ], the CS concentrations range from 1 to 10%. Recently, Kusumastuti et al [ 9 ] prepared LDPE/CS blends with CS concentration up to 40 wt%. This became feasible by adding maleic anhydride (MA) and tert-butyl peroxybenzoate (TBPB) as a compatibilizer and initiator, respectively.…”

“…Although CS cannot be used directly in industrial extrusion molding processes, CS based materials have been recently reported as versatile and cost-competitive materials for various industrial applications [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. To overcome the obstacles of this raw material use for such applications, the co-extrusion of the CS with synthetic polymers such as LDPE is proposed by researchers [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. The blending of the CS with the LDPE requires a compatibilizer such as co-maleic anhydride [ 9 ].…”

“…To overcome the obstacles of this raw material use for such applications, the co-extrusion of the CS with synthetic polymers such as LDPE is proposed by researchers [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. The blending of the CS with the LDPE requires a compatibilizer such as co-maleic anhydride [ 9 ]. Park et al [ 10 ] prepared LDPE/CS blends with low CS concentration, i.e., up to 8%, by using lactic acid as a compatibilizer.…”

“…Results indicated that by increasing the CS concentration the tensile strength and the water barrier decreased, while oxygen barrier increased. Recently, Kusumastuti et al [ 9 ] prepared LDPE/CS blends with high CS concentration, i.e., up to 40%, by adding maleic anhydride (MA) and tert-butyl peroxybenzoate (TBPB) as a compatibilizer and initiator respectively. By increasing the CS concentration, the results showed an increase of tensile stress and biodegradability of the obtained LDPE/CS films but no data on oxygen/water permeation were reported.…”