Preparation and characterization of low-density polyethylene/Banana starch films containing compatibilizer and photosensitizer

Composite films containing various percentages of banana starch and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) were prepared. The effects of the compatibilizer, banana starch content, and photosensitizer content on the thermal and tensile properties of these films were investigated. The banana starch content was varied from 5 to 20 wt %. of LDPE, whereas benzophenone was added as a photosensitizer in three different amounts (0.25, 0.5, and 1 wt %) based on LDPE. In these films PE-graft-maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA) was used as a compatibilizer at 10 wt %, banana starch. It was found that the thermal stability of the composite films remained unchanged with respect to the amount of banana starch and benzophenone content. The addition of banana starch had no effect on the melting temperature and degree of crystallinity of the films. Similarly, PE-g-MA had no effect on the melting temperature but decreased the degree of crystallinity of the LDPE phase. Benzophenone caused an increase in the melting temperature but decreased the degree of crystallinity of LDPE in the films. Increasing the amount of banana starch decreased the tensile properties of the composite films. The addition of PE-g-MA as a compatibilizer increased the tensile properties compared with the uncompatibilized films. However, benzophenone had no effect on the tensile properties of the blend films. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.