Preparation of biodegradable high impact polystyrene/starch blends and evaluation of their thermal and impact properties

HIPS/starch blends were prepared in presence of glycerol as a plasticizer via extrusion process by a twin-screw extruder. The blends then were characterized by Izod impact strength, melt flow rate and Vicat softening point tests to evaluate their impact and thermal properties. Results indicated that these properties is affected by the amount of starch and glycerol used for preparation of blends in a way that addition of starch and glycerol leads to decrease the values of Izod impact strength and Vicat softening point. Measurements also showed that higher amount of starch led to decrease the value of melt flow rate, although it was increased by addition of glycerol

Keywords:

High impact polystyrene-starch-glycerol-extrusion-morphology