Characterization of starch/polyethylene and starch/polyethylene/poly(lactic acid) composites

This paper examines the microstructural aspects of vernonia oil-added starch-polyethylene and vernonia oil added starch-polyethylene-polylactic acid composite. Polymer composite films containing different percentage of additives were melt processed and acid hydrolyzed. Scanning electron microscopy of the fracture surfaces of OsO4 stained vernonia oil-added composite showed that the vernonia oil is present at the interface of the starch-polyethylene. Tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TMAFM) was used to obtain pore size of the hydrolyzed polymer composite. The progressive hydrolysis of the degradable component in the composite was studied by mass loss measurement and FTIR analyses. The quantity of water passing through the porous acid hydrolyzed composite was found to depend on the thickness of film. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.