Investigations on Corn-Starch Modified Low Density Polyethylene

Investigations were carried out on the biodegradation of low and high density polyethylene, modified with different concentrations by mass of corn-starch. Convectional plastics, such as Low and High Density polyethylene (LDPE/HDPE) are widely used in all fields of life; therefore constitute the greatest municipal waste products, due to their inertness to biological attack, moisture and weather conditions. Corn-starch which is a biofiller was characterized to ensure its suitability in the blending of synthetic plastics like LDPE. Mechanical tests and percentage weight-loss properties of the corn-starch modified low density polyethylene were investigated before and after soil burial test. The evidence of biodegradation was exhibited on the reduced tensile strength , elongation at break, increased water absorption and other properties of the blended films as against the pure LDPE.