Effect of Sago Starch Modifications on Polystyrene/Thermoplastic Starch Blends
Mohamad Kahar Ab Wahab,
Halimatul Syahirah Mohamad,
Elammaran Jayamani,
Hanafi Ismail,
Izabela Wnuk,
Anna Przybył,
Tomasz Stachowiak,
Przemysław Postawa
Affiliations
Mohamad Kahar Ab Wahab
Faculty of Chemical Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Kangar 06100, Perlis, Malaysia
Halimatul Syahirah Mohamad
Faculty of Chemical Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Kangar 06100, Perlis, Malaysia
Elammaran Jayamani
Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Kuching 93350, Sarawak, Malaysia
Hanafi Ismail
School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Seri Ampangan Nibong Tebal, Seberang Perai Selatan, Nibong Tebal 14300, Penang, Malaysia
Izabela Wnuk
Department of Physics, Częstochowa University of Technology, 42-216 Częstochowa, Poland
Anna Przybył
Department of Physics, Częstochowa University of Technology, 42-216 Częstochowa, Poland
Tomasz Stachowiak
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science, Częstochowa University of Technology, 42-216 Częstochowa, Poland
Przemysław Postawa
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science, Częstochowa University of Technology, 42-216 Częstochowa, Poland
The preparation of polystyrene/thermoplastic starch (PS/TPS) blends was divided into three stages. The first stage involved the preparation of TPS from sago starch. Then, for the second stage, PS was blended with TPS to produce a TPS/PS blend. The ratios of the TPS/PS blend were 20:80, 40:60, 60:40, and 80:20. The final stage was a modification of the composition of TPS/PS blends with succinic anhydride and ascorbic acid treatment. Both untreated and treated blends were characterized by their physical, thermal, and surface morphology properties. The obtained results indicate that modified blends have better tensile strength as the adhesion between TPS and PS was improved. This can be observed from SEM micrographs, as modified blends with succinic anhydride and ascorbic acid had smaller TPS dispersion in PS/TPS blends. The micrograph showed that there was no agglomeration and void formation in the TPS/PS blending process. Furthermore, modified blends show better thermal stability, as proved by thermogravimetric analysis. Water uptake into the TPS/PS blends also decreased after the modifications, and the structural analysis showed the formation of a new peak after the modification process.
