Effect of Palm Stearin as a Compatibilizers in PBAT/Zein Blends Biodegradable Polymer

Abstract

In this study, the introduction of PBAT was conducted through reactive blending with Zein, a renewable natural biopolymer derived from corn, in the presence of Palm Stearin (PS); one of the components in palm oil. The objective of this study is to examine the impact of mechanical forces on PBAT/Zein composites, both with and without the presence of PS. The PBAT/Zein and PBAT/Zein/PS blends will be subjected to various experiments, including mechanical testing and thermal analysis. Variation of different formulations of composition, comprised of PBAT, Zein and PS were used in this study. The thermal and mechanical properties of the PBAT/Zn blend were assessed through the utilization of mixing characteristics as well as thermal and mechanical properties. Based on the findings, it has been determined that the optimal composition for the PBAT/Zein blend is achieved when the blend contains 10% zein content. Furthermore, the optimal composition of PBAT/Zein/PS is achieved when 10 phr of PS are included in the blend.