SYNTHESIS OF POLIBLEND POLYSTYRENE WITH TAPIOCA STARCH AND ITS CHARACTERIZATION

• Main Author: (NIM : 105 03 054), Nurhidayati
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/6564
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Abstract: <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Polystyrene is one of the polymers which used as plastic. The microorganisms lack of ability to destroy polystyrene will increase the quantity of plastic waste. One approach to decrease plastic waste is by preparation biodegradable polystyrene polyblends. In this research, polystyrene is modified by blending with tapioca starch. The process is done mechanically. Nitrated polystyrene was added into polyblends in order to increase the homogeneity of polyblends. Polyblends were characterized by functional group analysis, thermal analysis, mechanical analysis, degree of crystallinity and surface analysis. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Functional group analysis showed that the interaction occurred between polystyrene and tapioca starch was physical interaction only. The decomposition temperature and tensile strength of polyblend had a tendency to decrease but the degree of crystallinity had a tendency to increase. The increase of starch composition in polyblends caused polyblends become less homogeneous. Polyblends added with nitrated polystyrene are more <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> homogeneous than polyblends without nitrated polystyrene. However, its still need further research in order to know the biodegradability of polyblend.