Modification of Low Density Polyethylene Films by Blending with Natural Polymers and Curing by Gamma Radiation

The aim of the study is to improve the properties of low density polyethylene (LDPE) films by blending with different natural polymers such as rubber, starch, and lactic acid. The properties of the different synthesized bioblends which composed of LDPE/PVA/starch, LDPE/natural rubber/PVA/starch/glycerol blend and LDPE/PVA/polylactic acid/starch/glycerol blend were studied by using FTIR, mechanical, TGA, XRD and SEM techniques. Also the properties of the different bioblends were compared with synthetic polymers such as commercial LDPE, blank LDPE and LDPE/glycerol. The results show that the blend composed of LDPE/natural rubber/PVA/starch/glycerol has improved the properties than the other blends and synthetic polymers. Also further modification to the selected blend by irradiation with gamma rays at different doses has been occurred. The selected irradiated LDPE/natural rubber/PVA/starch/glycerol blend-shows good thermal stability than other blend films and further improvement occurs up to dose of 15 kGy. Moreover, the observed mechanical results show improvement in both tensile strength and elongation up to 30 kGy. The presence of PVA and glycerol as compatibilizer and plasticizer agents respectively, increases the interfacial adhesion properties between the low density polyethylene, natural rubber, and starch within the selected blend film.