The use of renewable resource based materials as filler for thermoplastic polymers showed wide scope in agriculture, textile and commodity applications due to low cost and high mechanical properties. In this work marine red algae based polysaccharide was used as a filler material for high density polyethylene (HDPE). The polysaccharide extracted from marine based red algae is a byproduct of algae to oil extraction process. The blends were prepared using conical twin-screw micro compounder. The maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene and glycerol were used as compatibilizer and plasticizer for HDPE and polysaccharide blend. The mechanical properties of high density polyethylene with different weight fractions of algal polysaccharide showed better tensile strength as compared to virgin HDPE. The highest viscosity of HDPE/polysaccharide blends was observed with the addition of 40 wt% of polysaccharide. The microstructural analysis of the blends was evaluated to understand the dispersion of polysaccharide into HDPE matrix by microscopic techniques and it is observed that algal polysaccharide dispersed well in HDPE polymer matrix.
Related articles
Other papers on this site that share keywords with this one, closest match first.
International Journal of Polymer Science and Engineering
