| Abstract: | The structure, mechanical properties and susceptibility to degradation of blends of low density polyethylene (PE) or isotactic polypropylene (PP) and glycerol plasticized starch (GS) was investigated. Monoethers of glycerol and fatty alcohols (GA) and in some cases epoxidized rubbers (ER) were used as compatibilizers for the investigated systems. It was found that mechanical properties and ageing susceptibility of blends depend strongly on their composition, i.e. the content of plasticized starch in the blend and the content of glycerol in the starch. In some cases an increased susceptibility to biodegradation during soil or fungus ageing not only of the starch phase but also of the polymer phase was observed. The susceptibility of these systems to accelerated artificial weathering was also investigated. |
