PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES STUDY OF STARCH/PVA BLEND BIODEGRADABLE FOAM

• Main Author: ADZHAR, ZURAIMI
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: IRC 2014
• Subjects: TP Chemical technology
• Online Access: http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/14527/1/%5BDissertation%5D%20StarchPVA%20Biodegradable%20Foam.pdf; http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/14527/

Mixing biodegradable polymers with each other could improve their fundamental properties. Starch is one of the most widely used materials to be fused/mixed with other biodegradable polymers. Starch/PVA combination compared to pure starch materials has shown improved tensile strength, elongation and processability. PVA is a biodegradable material however PVA has a low degree of biodegradation and as well it is not a renewable material. The study of physical and mechanical properties of starch and PVA blend studied the effect of mass ratio between starch and PVA. The mixture of starch and PVA are prepared with 4 different ratios with the aim of decreasing the amount of PVA in the mixture. The blends are prepared using a constant stirring as well as constant foaming speed. The time of blending, foaming and curing is also constant. The curing temperature varied from 90, 100 and 110 °C. After 4 hours of curing, the samples are taken out to determine its weight and thickness to find its density as well as the test for tensile strength. The foam with equal ratio of starch and PVA and cured with temperature 100 °C shown the lowest density. The tensile strength of the sample could not be completed as the samples have failed the tensile strength test where samples are too soft and delicate to be tested on the tensile strength machine.