J.

Atoms and Molecules/ 3(4); 2013 / 553559 Research Article

Obasi HC

Journal of Atoms and Molecules

An International Online Journal
ISSN 2277 1247

NATIVE POTATO STARCH (NPS) BLENDED WITH POLYPROPYLENE: EFFECT OF SOIL BURIAL ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES Obasi Henry C Department of Polymer and Textile Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, P.M.B 1526, Imo State, Nigeria. Received on: 12-07-2013 ABSTRACT: Polypropylene (PP) biodegradable blends were prepared by the incorporation of native potato starch (NPS) powder at filler content in the range of 0-50 wt. % into an injection moulding machine. The native starch has a particle size of 0.075mm. The biodegradation of the native potato starch filled polypropylene blends were investigated as a function of filler content and compatibilizing agent (PP-g-MA). A soil burial test was conducted for 90 days, and the degradation of NPS/PP blends was evaluated through tensile testing. The results showed that the tensile strength, elongation at break and Youngs modulus all decreased after soil burial testing due to the microbial attack on the samples. Tensile properties improvement was seen on addition of PP-g-MA due to better adhesion between the native potato starch filler and polypropylene matrix. KEY WORDS: Native potato starch, polypropylene, soil burial, PP-g-MA, tensile properties. Revised on: 30-07-2013 Accepted on: 16082013

INTRODUCTION: Water resistance, light weight and long lasting are some of the properties possess by synthetic polymers (such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride etc) that make them good candidates for packaging. It is not surprising therefore, that plastics are used for both consumer and industrial products (Petnamsin et al, 2000). However, these properties that make suitable for packaging contribute to their nonbiodegradability which is the major cause of the environmental waste management problems. These plastics are heaped in landfill sites, and their incineration results in generation of heat and toxic emissions thereby causing air pollution (Petnamsin et al, 2000; www.jamonline.in 553

* Corresponding author Obasi Henry C, Email: neduobasi35@yahoo.com Tel : +2348039478014

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J. Atoms and Molecules/ 3(4); 2013 / 553559 Nickazar et al, 2005). Recycling is considered a credible solution for plastics problems but it is limited as not all plastics are recyclable. Development of biodegradable polymers is considered a gateway to solving municipal solid waste problems. Blending of synthetic polymers like polypropylene with natural additives such as starch is an important way to enhance biodegradability of polymers (Shahrzad, 2011; Huang et al, 1990; Doi and Fakuda, 1994; Potts, 1981]. Polypropylene, the next commodity polymer after polyethylene is used in large scale for packaging and production of bags and other consumer products. Polypropylene is employed in packaging industry, in the production of automotive interiors, polypropylene fibers, and non-absorbable sutures and in composites with other materials. Starch is an inexpensive material used as a biodegradable additive. It is abundant, renewable and biodegradation suitable for blending with synthetic polymers (Shahrzad, 2011). Raw starch is considered to be cost effective additive and meets with the requirement of high thermal stability, minimum interference with flow sproperties and minimum disturbance of product (Aminabhavi et al, 1990; Shah et al, 1995). Besides promoting the biodegradable capacity of the microorganisms, the type of starch used in the synthesis of polymer blends can change the properties of the polymer (Gomes et al, 2004). As a way of increasing compatibility between starch and polypropylene, a compatibilizer, polypropylene- graft-maleic anhydride (PP-g-MA) containing groups capable of hydrogen bonding with starch hydroxyls is used. It forms suitable complexes with starch due to hydrogen bond formation between the anhydride groups of the compatibilizer and hydroxyl groups of starch.

Obasi HC A polymeric system composing of mixture of conventional plastic like polypropylene with the biodegradable polymer such as starch is believed to produce a type of plastic material with different mechanical properties (Rosen and Schway, 1980), presenting resistance to heat, light and humidity (Patnaik et al, 2011). When this material is discarded into the environment, it can be degraded by microorganisms whose natural abode is the same soil (Resis et al, 1997). Known methods of testing plastics for biodegradability showed that changes in mechanical properties and complete loss of structural integrity due to decrease in molecular weight are evidence of biodegradation (Gilead and Ennis, 1987). In the present study, native potato starch was incorporated into polypropylene in the presence of a compatibilizer. Evaluation of the biodegradability and mechanical properties of PP/starch blends as a function of starch content over a period of time was studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Native Potato Starch (NPS) was extracted from potato tubers obtained from local market in Ehime Mbano, Imo State, Nigeria according to the method adopted by integrated cassava project (ICP) of the Federal Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development, Nigeria. It has a particle size of 0.075mm. Polypropylene (PP) pellets with melt flow index (MFI) of 70 g/10 min and melting temperature of 165C were purchased from Ceeplast Industries Ltd, Aba Abia State, Nigeria. Polypropylene- graft- maleic anhydride (PP-g-MA) was obtained from Sigma Aldrich Chemicals Germany with melting point of 156C and density of 0.934 g cm-3 and was used as supplied.

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J. Atoms and Molecules/ 3(4); 2013 / 553559 Preparation of NPS/PP Blends Compounds of native potato starch (NPS) or native compatibilized potato starch (NCPS) and polypropylene (PP) were melt-blended in an injection machine with a screw speed of 50 rpm and at a temperature of 160- 190C to obtain NPS/PP or NCPS/PP composites. The NPS or NCPS contents ranged from 0-50 wt. % whereas polypropylene- graft- maleic anhydride (PP-g-MA) at 10 wt. % based on the starch content was used a compatibilizer. The liquid melt was injected into a mould to obtain blend sheets. These sheets were oven dried for 24 h at 70C to avoid moisture infiltration, and then stored in a desiccator. Soil Burial Test In order to determine the biodegradability of the NPS or NCPS blends, soil burial test was carried out on a laboratory scale. Dog bone shaped specimens of definite sizes were cut from each of the blends. The soil burial test lasted for 90 days. Wet humus soil was placed in a plastic container with tiny holes at the bottom and on the side to increase air circulation. The soil was kept moist with water and kept outside the room throughout the period of test. The specimens were buried in the soil at a depth of 10 cm from the surface and thus subjected to the action of microorganisms which mainly have the soil as the habitat. At the end of the test period, the specimens were removed, washed with distilled water and dried in an oven at 70C for 24 h and stored then in a desiccator. Tensile Properties Tensile tests were performed for the exposed samples using a universal tensile testing machine Instron 3366, according to ASTM D638. The test on Dog bone shaped specimens of 3 mm thickness was performed at a cross-head speed of 5 mm/min at 253C. Five specimens were used to obtain the average values of the tensile properties. All rights reserved 2011 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS: Tensile Properties

Obasi HC

The studies on biodegradation behavior of polymer bio-blends and bio-composites are important for the application of these materials in the environment. Figures 1-3 present changes in tensile properties of various NPS/PP blends as a function of biodegradation time for a period of 90 days. The tensile properties for all the blends of NPS/PP with and without compatibilizer show approximately linear relation with degradation time. The decrease in tensile strength, elongation at break and Youngs modulus at each point of soil burial was observed to increase with increasing NPS content in the blend. This may be attributed to the effect of the native potato starch on tensile properties of the blends to the moisture absorbing characteristics and interfacial bonding which can produce flaws or defects that are sensitive characteristic features for mechanical behavior. Biodegradation occurs when microorganisms such as fungi or bacteria consume the starch material leading to increased porosity, void formation and the loss of structural integrity of the matrix. The higher the starch content, the higher the blends feebleness. The effect of compatibilizer, polypropylenegraft-maleic anhydride (PP-g-MA) on NPS/PP blends was investigated to determine the changes in tensile properties over the soil burial period. The ability of blends to degrade depends greatly on physicochemical characteristics of the substrate, such as the degree of crystallinity, modification of the filler and interfacial adhesion. Interfacial adhesion is an important parameter that redefines structural integrity of blends. It was observed that all the blends experienced decrease in tensile properties with increasing starch content and burial time. However, a www.jamonline.in 555

J. Atoms and Molecules/ 3(4); 2013 / 553559 lower decrease in properties when compared with the uncompatibilized blends (Figures 13). Similarly, the trend was same for calculated percent decrease in tensile properties of both compatibilized and uncompatibilized blends after biodegradation (Tables 1-3). This reduction may be attributed to enhanced interfacial interaction between the PP and starch phases. The inclusion of the compatibilizer makes them more compatible with the stability of the morphology in the mixing process. It is worthy to note that the decrease is dependent on the starch content, burial time and nature of polymer. CONCLUSIONS: The biodegradation of native potato starch filled polypropylene was studied for 90 days in natural soil environment. After biodegradability tests, tensile tests were performed to evaluate the biodegradation behavior of the developed blends. The results obtained showed that tensile properties investigated decrease after burial testing due to the biological attack or biodegradation of the PP blends. The results also showed that the presence of a compatibilizing agent improves the tensile properties of NPS/PP blends compared to blends without compatibilizer due to improved NPS/PP adhesion. REFERENCES: 1) Aminabhavi T.M., Balundgi R.H. and Cassidy P.E (1990). A Review on Biodegradable Plastics. Polym. Plast. Technol. Eng., 29, 235-262. 2) Doi Y. and Fukuda K. (1994). Biodegradable Plastics and Polymers, Elsevier Science B.V., 601-608. 3) Gilead D and Ennis (1987). In: Proc. Symp. Biodegradable Plastics. SPI Washington DC. P37. 4) Gomes M.E., Ribeiro A.S., Malafaya P.B., Resis R.L. and Lunha A.M (2004). All rights reserved 2011

Obasi HC A New Approach Based on Injection Moulding to Produce Biodegradable Starch-based Polymeric Scaffolds: Morphology, Mechanical and Degradation Behavior. Biomater., 10, 230-233. 5) Huang J.C, Shetty A.S and Wang S.W. (1990). Biodegradable Plastics: A Review. Adv. Polym. Technol., 10, 23-30 6) Nikazar M., Safari B., Babak B. and milanic Z. (2005). Improving the Biodegradability and Mechanical Strength of Corn Starch-LDPE Blends through Formulation Modification. Iranian Polym. Journal, 14(12), 10501057. 7) Patnaik K.R., Devi K.S., Kumar K.V. and Harsha K.S. (2011). Biodegradability Behavior on Sorbitol Modified Starch Blended with HDPE. Intl J. Chem. Eng. Appl., 2(4), 248-251. 8) Petnamsin C., Niti T. and Sriroth k. (2000). Effect of Particle Size on Physical Properties and Biodegradability of Cassava Starch/Poymer Blend. Kasetsart J. (Nat. Sci.) 34:254-261. 9) Potts J.E. (1981). Environmentally Degradable Plastics. In: Kirk-Othmer Encychopedia of chemical technology, 3rd ed., suppl. Vol. John Wiley, New York, 638-668. 10) Resis R.L., A.M. and Bevis M.J (1997). Structure Development and Control of Injection Moulded Hydroxyl Apatite Reinforced Starch/EVOH Composites, Adv. Polym. Technol., 16, 263-277. 11) Rosen J.J. and Schway A.M. (1980). Kinetics of Cell Adhesion to a Hydrophilic Hydrophobic Copolymer Model System. Polym. Sci. Technol 12B, 667-686. 12) Shah P.B., Bandopadhyay S. and Bellare J.R (1995). Environmentally Degradable Starch filled Low-Density Polyethylene. Polym. Degrad. Stab., 47, 165-173. 13) Shahrzad K. (2011). Study of Water Absorption and Biodegradation of Potato Starch based Polyethylene. Adv. Environ. Biology, 5 (10): 3156-3158.

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J. Atoms and Molecules/ 3(4); 2013 / 553559 GRAPHS AND TABLES:

Obasi HC

45 40 Tensile Strength (N/mm2) 35 30 NPS30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 NCPS30 NPS60 NCPS60 NPS90 NCPS90

Starch Content, wt. %

Fig 1: Tensile Strength of PP/NPS blends after soil burial

18 16 14 Elongation at break (%) 12 NPS30 10 8 6 4 2 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 NCPS30 NPS60 NCPS60 NPS90 NCPS90

Starch Content, wt. %

Fig 2: Elongation at Break of PP/NPS blends after soil burial

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J. Atoms and Molecules/ 3(4); 2013 / 553559

350 300 Young's Modulus (N/mm2) 250

Obasi HC

NPS30 200 NCPS30 150 100 NPS90 50 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 NCPS90 NPS60 NCPS60

Starch Content, wt. %

Fig 3: Youngs Modulus of PP/NPS blends after soil burial

Table 1: Percent Decrease in Tensile Strength of PP/NPS Blends after Biodegradation Starch contents (wt. %) 0 10 20 30 40 50 % loss in Tensile Strength after 30 days NPS 0.66 9.85 11.31 10.48 10.92 12.69 NCPS 0.66 6.09 7.46 8.11 10.32 11.21 % loss in Tensile Strength after 60 days NPS 1.44 11.97 12.88 15.64 16.59 18.02 NCPS 1.44 9.21 12.13 13.68 15.47 17.56 % loss in Tensile Strength after 90 days NPS 2.05 14.86 17.74 20.82 23.93 26.67 NCPS 2.05 12.78 14.96 16.81 19.22 21.94

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J. Atoms and Molecules/ 3(4); 2013 / 553559

Obasi HC

Table 2: Percent Decrease in Elongation at Break of PP/NPS Blends after Biodegradation Starch contents (wt. %) 0 10 20 30 40 50 % loss in Elongation at Break after 30 days NPS 0.58 2.04 4.38 8.65 6.86 9.57 NCPS 0.58 1.81 4.05 8.35 6.03 8.94 % loss in Elongation at Break after 60 days NPS 1.16 4.42 6.03 10.26 11.51 13.18 NCPS 1.16 3.58 6.24 8.78 10.83 12.62 % loss in Elongation at Break after 90 days NPS 1.74 7.65 9.87 12.96 14.62 16.28 NCPS 1.74 6.86 9.43 12.51 13.23 15.56

Table 3: Percent Decrease in Youngs modulus of PP/NPS Blends after Biodegradation Starch contents (wt. %) 0 10 20 30 40 50 % loss in Youngs modulus after 30 days NPS 1.21 2.74 3.82 5.73 6.69 8.95 NCPS 1.21 2.67 3.56 5.61 6.23 7.08 % loss in Youngs modulus after 60 days NPS 1.53 4.24 5.81 7.38 8.37 10.19 NCPS 1.53 3.78 5.73 7.21 7.76 10.02 % loss in Youngs modulus after 90 days NPS 1.86 6.69 8.32 10.86 11.48 13.75 NCPS 1.86 5.94 8.08 10.67 11.41 13.26

How to cite this article: Obasi HC Native potato starch (NPS) blended with polypropylene effect of soil burial on mechanical properties J. Atoms and Molecules, 3(4), 2013: 553 559. All rights reserved 2011 www.jamonline.in 559