Preparation and Characterization of Biodegradable and Compatible Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)/Thermoplastic starch (TPS) blend nanocomposites

摘要

Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)/thermoplastic starch (TPS) clay nanocomposites were prepared through melt intercalation technique using Haake Rheocord 9000 batch mixer with two different organically modified clays (Cloisite 30B & Cloisite 20A) at different weight percentages (1-7wt%).The EVA/TPS ratio of 70:30 was taken as optimum blend ratio as evidenced from the mechanical strength and chosen for the nanocomposites preparation in the presence of MA-g-PE as a compatibilizer. The maize starch was plasticized and gelatinized by adding glycerol and water in the ratio of 70:20:10. The blend nanocomposites have been examined by various techniques for characterization. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) result shows that the crystallization temperature of the nanocomposite blends is significantly lower than the base blend. Addition of 30wt% of modified starch to make EVA/TPS blend; there is deterioration of impact strength, tensile strength, tensile modulus and elongation at break which was significantly increased after incorporation of small quantity (1-7wt%) of nanoclay. Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the thermal stability of blend nanocomposites were better than those of EVA/TPS blend.