EFFECT OF GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE (GMS) AS A COMPATIBILIZER COMPONENT IN POLYMER BLEND HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (PE-PS) RESIN COMPOSITE
Istikamah Subuki (a*), Nur Azrini Ramlee (a), Ahmad Rafizan Mohamad Daud (a), Muhammad Hussain Ismail (b), Norazlen Rasid (a)

a) School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
*istikamah[at]uitm.edu.my
b) School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract

High percentage of palm stearin (PS) into a long molecular weight polymer (PE) resin may results in instability phenomena that is not sufficient to provide a good flowability of the feedstock for injection moulding. Thus, the objective of this report is to study the effect of addition of glycerol monostearate (GMS) as a compatibilizer with high PS content of 40 wt.%. The composite was characterised through torque analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis, rheology analysis, hot pressing and compaction and also mechanical characterization. It is found that, as GMS increase, both melting point and degradation temperature decrease. From the rheological properties, it shows that presence of GMS in the PS/PE can efficiently improve flowability and shows good moulded specimen. The tensile analysis shows high mechanical properties in PS/PE when GMS is added. Thus, GMS is a suitable plasticizer for PS/PE resin.

Keywords: Palm Stearin, Glycerol Monostearate, Rheology, Flowability

Topic: Polymer Chemistry & Bio-based Materials