engleski

UV irradiation effect on the properties of PP/PCL blends containing nano TiO2 particles

Unlike natural polymers, most synthetic polymers can not be decomposed by microorganisms, hence the landfill approach becomes inefficient, and other plastics waste management should be found. A study of the biodegradation properties of synthetic polymers has become very important. A modification of nonbiodegradable synthetic polymers with a biodegradable polymer producing environmentally friendly polymers. The main problem in modification of nonbiodegradable synthetic polymers with biodegradable polymers is compatibility between polymers mixtures with different properties. Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic polymer and difficult to be decomposed by microorganisms in environment. The aim of this work is to improve the properties of PP as well as its biodegradability by blending with biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL). PCL is nontoxic, biodegradable polymer material and can be blended with various synthetic polymers over a wide composition range. The main problem in preparation of PP/PCL polymer blends is compatibility between polymers. In this work is presented results of thermal properties and compatibility of PP and PCL polymer blends reinforced with nano sized titan dioxide (TiO2) particles as well as effect of nTiO2 reinforcement on the thermal properties and compatibility. The neat polymers, PP/PCL and PP/PCL (nTiO2) polymer blends were prepared by melt compounding with a twin screw extruder, the granules of the blends were compression moulding in hydraulic press. The thermal properties of the neat polymers, PP/PCL and PP/PCL/nTiO2 blends are measured using the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermogravimetry (TGA) techniques.

polypropylene; polycaprolactone; nTiO2; thermal stability; polymers blends; thermal properties

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