Preparation, FTIR Analysis and Morphological Studies of PVAc/Starch -g-Oleic acid Polymer blends

Abstract

Oleic acid grafted cassava starch was blended with poly (vinyl acetate) PVAc, in a PVAc/starch-g-oleic acid w/w ratio of 20:80, 40:60, 50:50 and 80:20 at room temperature. The blend films were characterized by FTIR-analysis, a strong absorption band at 1150 -1350cm-1 is due to C-O-C in the grafted starch, another peak at 1000-1260cm-1 in these spectra is due to C-O absorption band from the starch component, carbonyl due to PVAc appear at 1730-1737cm-1 and C-H stretching band at 2924cm-1 in all the spectra and its intensity increases upon grafting. The scanning electron micrographs (SEM) of these blends show an improved compatibility when compared with PVAc/Native starch images. However, it was observed that 50:50 PVAc/starch-g-oleic acid w/w ratio, showed better compatibility and minimum phase separation followed by 20:80 and 40:60 then 80:20. This may be due to the high oleic acid content which enhance the hydrophobicity of the blend.