Effects of Crude Palm Oil on the Physico-Chemical Properties of Polyethylene Blown Film

The influence of small amounts of crude palm oil (CPO) content on the physical and chemical properties of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) have been investigated. HDPE and LLDPE containing, 2, 3 and 5% CPO were prepared in a twin-screw extruder. Then, films of 0.2mm thickness were produced by using blown film technique. The melting point of CPO is 35.65°C and melting point of PE is 130-140°C in HDPE and 85-125°C in LLDPE. Thermal observation by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) is not significant in melting and crystallisation. Similar observation was also presented in storage modulus, tan δ and loss modulus of Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) results. The improvement of tensile strength and elongation at break showed that the enhancement in toughness of the polymers in the addition of CPO. A gradual increase in impact strength of HDPE with the CPO content further supported above notation. The enhancement in the physical properties in the presence of CPO is believed to be attributed to the increased chain mobility of the polymer along with improved orientation strengthening in HDPE and LLDPE. Evidence from Scanning Electron Micrographs (SEM) were also used to support this contention. However, the decline in impact strength of LLDPE with the addition of CPO is associated with the formation of defects in amorphous phase of LLDPE. With increasing of CPO addition, viscosity is increased at the low shear rate in rheological examination. Melt Flow Index (MFI) value is increased with the incremental of CPO addition. FT-IR analysis shows that almost same spectra of modified PE with control. The results indicate that no chemical reaction occurred between PE and CPO.

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