Effect of starch nanoparticles on the crystallization kinetics and photodegradation of high density polyethylene. (1st October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Amigo, Nicolás; Palza, Humberto; Canales, Daniel; Sepúlveda, Francesca; Vasco, Diego A.; Sepúlveda, Francisco; Zapata, Paula A.
• Is Part Of: Composites. Number 174(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-10-01
• Subjects: Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs) -- Starch nanocrystals (SNp) -- Polyethylene (PE) -- Isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization -- Photodegradation; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; Composite materials; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2019.106979
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-8368

Abstract

Abstract: Starch nanoparticles (SNp) with a diameter of ca. 70 nm were synthesized and used as fillers to prepare high density polyethylene (PE) composites by in situ polymerization. The effect of these particles on the thermal degradation, isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization, and photodegradation of PE was studied. SNp decreased the thermal degradation temperature of PE as tested by thermogravimetric analysis and increased the relative crystallinity and crystallization rate under isothermal conditions. This nucleating agent effect was confirmed by nonisothermal crystallizations as composites presented higher crystallization temperatures than neat PE. The photodegradation tests under UV radiation during 28 days showed that NPp promoted the polymer degradation by increasing the amount of carbonyl groups and by forming cavities at the nanoparticle/PE interface. Our findings open up new strategies for using SNp as filler in PE matrices to increase not only its photodegradation, but also its thermal properties.