Effect of Starch Blends on Mechanical Properties of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Film
Sangeeta Garg and Asim K. Jana*

Department of Chemical and Bioengineering,
National Institute of Technology,
Jalandhar 144 011

Paper Received: 20.1.05 Revised Paper Accepted 15.6.06

Different films were prepared by blending corn starch, crosslinked starch or glycerol modified starch in LDPE. The properties of these films were studied for tensile strength, elongation, melt flow index, and burst strength. The properties of the blend films were compared with LDPE films. It was observed that with the blending of 7.5% native starch, there was a decrease in tensile strength, elongation and melt flow index but increase of burst strength. However, tensile strength, elongation and melt flow index of the films containing cross linked starch was considerably higher than those containing native starch but the burst strength showed a reverse trend. The blend composition was further modified with the plasticizing agent glycerol for the native starch and cross linked starch. The tensile strength, elongation and melt flow index of the films further improved but burst strength decreased with the addition of glycerol. Films with higher concentration of starch were possible only when the starch was modified using plasticizing agent at the cost of decrease in mechanical properties.

 

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