PREPARATION OF POLYBLEND POLYSTYRENE WITH CHITOSAN AND ITS CHARACTERIZATION

• Main Author: Rahmawati (NIM : 105 03 056), Fitriana
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/6124
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Abstract: <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Polystyrene is one of the synthetic polymers that is widely used, especially as plastics. The inability of microorganism to degrade polystyrene in nature, makes it one of the source of plastic waste. Modification of polystyrene could be done by mixing it with natural polymer, to obtain polystyrene with different characteristics. In this research, preparation of polyblend was done between polystyrene and chitosan using mechanical blending method. The addition of nitrated polystyrene into the polyblend was aimed to increased the compatibility of the two polymers. Functional group analysis showed the interaction that occurs is physical <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> interaction. Addition of nitrated polystyrene increases the compatibility of the two polymers, so polyblends becomes more homogeneous. Thermal and surface analysis showed that polyblends are more homogeneous with the increase of chitosan. Degree of cristallinity as well as mechanical properties, such as: stress; strain; and Modulus Young (E), increased as the composition of chitosan increases. However, mechanical properties of the <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> polyblend decreases compared to that of pure polystyrene. The addition of chitosan into polyblend, resulted in a significant change to the characteristics of polystyrene.