Reinforcement of biodegradable plastic with titanium dioxide polymorphs

Abstract or Summary

Sustainable green alternative to petroleum-based plastics with attributes of degradation and recyclability are bioplastics. Novatein thermoplastic protein (NTP) is biologically derived plastic, which was blended with polymorphs (rutile and anatase) of TiO2 at different loadings of nanoparticles (0pph to 5pph), further kept in distinctive environments (unconditioned and conditioned). The reinforcement in mechanical properties (tensile and impact) of pure NTP blend was investigated and comparison of performance between each (NTP/RTiO2 and NTP/ATiO2) nanocomposite was done. The unconditioned set of results showed that tensile properties of pure NTP blend was reinforced maximum by 20% & 16% of tensile strength and 60% & 30% of modulus. Whereas, the conditioned set of results with better reinforcing effect showed 30% & 13% increase in tensile strength and 50% & 80% of modulus for NTP/RTiO2 and NTP/ATiO2 nanocomposites. Impact properties were found to behave differently, as it increased by 15% & 70% for NTP/RTiO2 and decreased by 30% & 40% for NTP/ATiO2 in unconditioned and conditioned set. From these results, it can be understood that NTP/RTiO2 performed better with greater reinforcement in mechanical properties, which is resulted due to the asymmetric acicular shape of rutile compared to symmetric spherical shape of anatase. SEM analysis of fracture surfaces helped to explain the changes in mechanical performances of nanocomposites.