The Effect of Anhydride Modification of Sago Starch on the Tensile and Water Absorption Properties of Sago-Filled Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (Lldpe)

Sago starch was chemically modified through esterification using 2-dodecen-1-yl succinic anhydride (DSA) and propionic anhydride (PA) and three different solvents: [N,N dimethylformamide (DMF), triethylamine (TEA), and toluene (TOU)]. The effect of reaction times and temperatures on the modification was investigated. Evidence of anhydride modification was established by the weight percent gain (WPG) and was further confirmed by FTIR. The DSA–DMF and PA–DMF system, when subjected to the reaction condition of 120°C for 5 h, resulted in the highest WPG. Starch modified with 2-dodecen-1-yl succinic anhydride (MS) and propionic anhydride (MS2) was employed in preparation of composites. Samples of composites containing blends of MS/LLDPE and MS2/LLDPE with four different loadings of fillers (10, 25, 40 and 50% based on composite weight) were prepared. With unmodified ST/LLDPE, as the starch content increased, tensile modulus and water absorption increased—but tensile strength and elongation at break showed the opposite effect. With modification, the MS/LLDPE and MS2/LLDPE blends showed improved mechanical and water absorption properties as compared to ST/LLDPE.