Publication: The valorization of polyethylene (pe) plastic waste into halochromic smart polymers
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Date
2024-08-01
Authors
Nurul Izzati Binti Wardi Helmi
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Abstract
The objective of this research was to fabricate recycled low density polyethylene rLDPE/starch/dye and rLDPE-g-IA/Starch/dye film that has halochromic properties via single screw extruder and compression moulding techniques. The mixing of methyl red was used as pH dye that can change the sample color from reddish to yellowish at pH above 6.2. Recycled LDPE was grafted using itaconic anhydride (IA). The halochromic properties of the rLDPE/Starch/dye and rLDPE-g-IA/Starch/dye samples were characterized by visual response where the colour analysis was performed using CIE L*a*b* colour space model. The colour changes of halochromic sample were tested at different pH solution such as sulphuric acid (𝐻2𝑆𝑂4) and ammonia solution (𝑁𝐻3). Morphology of rLDPE/Starch/dye and rLDPE-g-IA/Starch/dye were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The properties of rLDPE/Starch/dye and rLDPE-g-IA/Starch/dye on the tensile properties were studied. The sample with increasing starch content shows reduced mechanical properties due to the semi-crystalline nature of starch that cause the sample become more brittle and easy to break upon stretching. However, increasing starch content shows increasing ΔE values for visual color changes test. The grafted recycle LDPE composition sample has improved mechanical properties such as tensile strength and elongation at break.