XRD characterization thermoplastic STARCH/poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (TPS/PBAT) blends irradiated by gamma rays

Abstract

The aim of this research was to check the changes in the structure and crystallinity of non-irradiated and irradiated thermoplastic starch blends (TPS)/poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) - PBAT and also to evaluate the behavior of castor oil in place of glycerol. In this work, the characterization was performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), in which the crystallinity index (IC) of non-irradiated and irradiated blends of TPS/PBAT was calculated. For plastification of the TPS, glycerol, castor oil and TWEEN® 80 were used to verify the compatibility and compare the blends with each other. The samples were prepared by extrusion and irradiated at 25 kGy with gamma rays from a 60Co source. However, the crystallinity indexes of the blends were altered according to the plasticizer used and the use of TWEEN® 80. Thus, it been concluded that glycerol substitution by castor oil is feasible in TPS/PBAT blends.