COMPATIBILIZERS FOR POLYMER BLENDS AND COMPOSITE MATERIALS: PREMADE GRAFT POLYMERS

OLIVIA V. LÓPEZ; MARIO D. NINAGO; SOLEDAD M. M. LENCINA; NOEMÍ A. ANDREUCETTI; ANDRÉS E. CIOLINO; MARCELO A. VILLAR

Cancún-Rivera Maya

Congreso; XV Simposio Latinoamericano de Polímeros-XIII Congreso Iberoamericano de Polímeros; 2016

XV Simposio Latinoamericano de Polímeros-XIII Congreso Iberoamericano de Polímeros

Starch is an abundant low cost biopolymer that has been study as an interesting alternative to petroleum derivatives. Thermoplastic starch (TPS) based materials presents some disadvantages mainly associated to their high susceptibility to humidity, limiting its industrial applications. In this sense, starch blending with others polymers may represents a promising alternative to improve final properties of starch-based materials. Among synthetic biodegradable polymers, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is considered an interesting option. Nevertheless, due to hydrophilic TPS and hydrophobic PCL characters, the compatibility between them is very low. In this sense, the use of a compatibilizer agent between the polyester and the starch matrix could overcome this drawback. Thus, functionalized starches are novel candidates to be used as TPS-PCL compatibilizer. The synthesis of these derivatives through starch-PCL copolymerization reactions involve polyester chains grafting through reactive sites originated by free radical formation, onto the starch backbone. Usually, free radicals are promoted by chemical compound (initiators), which are environmentally harmful. Within this context, physical methods, such as high-energy ionizing radiation, are considered alternatives to promote free radical polymerizations which are friendlier to the environment. In the present work, it is proposed the synthesis of starch-g-PCL copolymers applying a novel, simple and green one-pot technique using low doses of 60Co gamma radiation.