Preparation and characterization of LDPE/TPS blend filled with calcium carbonate

Abstract

The characterization of LDPE/TPS composite with calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) filler was conducted under several measurements such as tensile testing, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and water absorption. The preparation of LDPE/TPS/CaCO₃ composite was divided into three stages. The first stage involved the preparation of TPS from starch. The preparation of TPS was conducted by using heated two roll mill at temperature 150°C for 10 minutes. Then, for the second stage, LDPE was blended with TPS to produce LDPE/TPS blend. Several ratio of LDPE/TPS blend are 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40 and 50:50. Each composition will undergo tensile testing to analyze their mechanical properties. The data achieved was used to choose optimum LDPE/TPS blend ratio for subsequent study. For the third stage involved the compounding process which is the choosen LDPE/TPS was blend with CaCO₃. All composites were characterized their physical, thermal and surface morphology properties. The result indicate that LDPE/TPS with incorporation of calcium carbonate gave higher value of tensile properties as compared to LDPE/TPS blend. However, based on the SEM micrograph, treated TPS with citric acid and ascorbic acid performed better interfacial phase as compared to untreated TPS. The micrograph was found there is no agglomeration and voids formation occurred in LDPE/TPSCA/CaCO₃ composites and LDPE/TPSAA/CaCO₃ composites.