Rheological, Structural and Melt Spinnability Study on Thermo-plastic Starch/PLA Blend Biopolymers and Tensile, Thermal and Structural Characteristics of Melt Spun Fibers

Authors

  • Selamu Temesgen Institute for Circular Economy of Bio: Polymers at Hof University (ibp), 95028 Hof/Saale, Germany; Ethiopian Institute of Textile and Fashion Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar P.O. Box 1037, Ethiopia and School of Textiles, Kombolcha Institute of Technology, Wollo University, Kombolcha P.O. Box 208, Ethiopia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2367-5476
  • Lucas Großmann Institute for Circular Economy of Bio: Polymers at Hof University (ibp), 95028 Hof/Saale, Germany https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2666-8706
  • Tamrat Tesfaye Ethiopian Institute of Textile and Fashion Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar P.O. Box 1037, Ethiopia
  • Ines Kuehnert Leibniz-Institut fuer Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Str. 6, D-01069 Dresden, German
  • Norbert Smolka Leibniz-Institut fuer Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Str. 6, D-01069 Dresden, German
  • Michael Nase Institute for Circular Economy of Bio: Polymers at Hof University (ibp), 95028 Hof/Saale, Germany https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8017-4849

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-5995.2024.13.20

Keywords:

Thermoplastic starch, biopolymer, sustainable polymer, melt spinning, tartaric acid, shear viscosity

Abstract

In this study, rheology, structure and melt spinnability of thermoplastic starch TPS/PLA blend compounds as well as characteristics of melt spun fibers was studied. Thermoplastic starch is further modified with tartaric acid and blends are compatibilized using graft copolymer, maleic anhydride grafted PLA. Results from rheology analysis of compounds shows significantly reduced melt flow rate MFR and reduced viscosity as a result of tartaric acid modification and compatibilization, but the viscosity was increased as TPS_TA content in the blend increased. In addition, storage modulus (G`) and loss modulus (G``) were increased with increasing TPS_TA content in the blends. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy FTIR analysis confirmed O-H peak shifts and peak intensity changes associated to starch thermosplasticization and further peak shifts associated with more O-H bond breakages due to tartaric acid modification, indicating acid hydrolysis action of tartaric acid which agrees with results from rheology study. Melt spinning trials show the possibility of melt spinning of biopolymer fibers from blends with up to 40%w/w TPS_TA content. The melt spun fibers have diameter in range of 12.0–124.0 μm depending on take up speed and TPS_TA content. Differential scanning calorimetry DSC analysis of melt spun fibers shows glass transition Tg shifts attributed to molecular orientation and rigid amorphous TPS phase formation as well as the occurrence of double melting peaks Tm associated to different crystals resulting from induced crystallization. The overall result from this study shows the possibility of melt spinning thermoplastic starch/PLA blend biopolymers in to fibers, revealing opportunity to utilize starch biopolymer for fiber spinning. Furthermore, the results also show the need for further research engagements to get fibers with better performance.

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2024-10-24

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Temesgen, S. ., Großmann, L. ., Tesfaye, T. ., Kuehnert, I. ., Smolka, N. ., & Nase, M. . (2024). Rheological, Structural and Melt Spinnability Study on Thermo-plastic Starch/PLA Blend Biopolymers and Tensile, Thermal and Structural Characteristics of Melt Spun Fibers. Journal of Research Updates in Polymer Science, 13, 187–209. https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-5995.2024.13.20

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Vol. 13 (2024)

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