Biodegradable Polymer Research Laboratory Department of Chemistry, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack-753003, Orissa, India
*Corresponding Author E-mail: mtungabidya@gmail.com
Online published on 7 February, 2013.
Graft copolymerization of polypropylene (PP) onto gelatin was carried out with Glucose-Cerium (IV) redox initiator in aqueous sulphuric acid medium under nitrogen atmosphere. The graft yield was influenced by time, temperature, concentration of acid, gelatin, PP & initiator. Maximum graft yield of 83.86% could be obtained at 500C, 3 hr reaction time period and 1.5 g gelatin. Thermal characterization of grafted samples was done by TGA, DTG, DSC and morphology study was carried out using SEM. The structures of the grafted samples were determined by using FTIR and XRD. Biodegradability test was carried out by soil burial test. The biodegradation of grafted sample was found to be better than those of ungrafted PP.
Graft Copolymerization, Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Biodegradable PP
