Effects of Alkaline Treatment on the Mechanical and Rheological Properties of Low-Density PolyethyleneSpartium junceum Flour Composites

Abstract EN

The effects of Spartium junceum (SJ) flour content, treatment time, and temperature on the mechanical and rheological properties of low density polyethylene/Spartium junceum flour (LDPE/SJ) composites were studied.

SJ flour was treated with NaOH (5% wt) for 24, 48, and 72 h at 25°C and 40°C.

FTIR results showed that there is a partial removal of lignin and hemicelluloses after treatment which improved the interfacial adhesion matrix/SJ flour.

Also, the alkaline treatment improved notably the tensile strength and Young's modulus and increased slightly the elongation at break of LDPE/SJ composites compared to those with untreated flour.