Evaluation of Styrene Content over Physical and Chemical Properties of Elastomer/TPS-EVOH/Chicken Feather Composites

Abstract

A series of styrene-butadiene (SB) elastomer/thermoplastic starch (TPS)/ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) composites were modified including chicken feathers in its formulation, which have the main component keratin. The composites were prepared by means of melt blending, and their chemical interactions were evaluated by means of infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and their thermal properties as Tg values were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal stability using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and viscoelastic properties with dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The styrene content in SB was changed in 3 levels, and chicken feather content also changed in 3 levels. It was identified that Tg value in composites decreases that is attributed to the styrene content in elastomer and that the chicken feather improved the storage modulus of composite. The thermal stability of composites also was affected by the presence of chicken feathers due its good thermal properties