Effects of aspergillus niger on mechanical, diffusion and thermal degradation properties of recycled low density polyethylene
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Date
2014-10-31
Authors
Kamau, Samuel Githira
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Plastics have wide applications in our daily lives. However, plastics wastes accumulating in the
environment pose great danger to stability of ecological system. The use of plastics, therefore,
has generated serious global concern due to their nonbiodegradability. Considerable effort has
been devoted to develop biodegradable polymeric materials. Microorganisms have been.
identified as potential biodegradative agents. In this proposed study, effects of Aspergillus niger
inoculated at different times on the degradation of recycled low density polyethylene (rLOPE) .
will be investigated. Dynamical mechanical analysis (OMA), creep, thermal degradation and
biodegradability measurement will be conducted. OMA will be carried out in the '"reqll\.'lh\
range 0.3 to 30 HZ and temperature range from O°Cto 100"e. Creep measurements wiII he lilllh.'
at 30°C, 50 °C and lOo°e. Time application will be 10 minutes and the recovery time wi II be
10 minutes. Diffusion measurements will be done by monitoring water uptake at room
temperature by measuring mass difference at specific periods of time. Thermogravimetric
Analysis (TGA) will be done using Lindberg Blue Tube Furnace from 25 °C to 700°C at heating
rate of lOoC/minute. The models of analysis for DMA and creep data will be Vogel-Fulcher
-Tammann (VFT) / William-Landel-Ferrry (WLF) and Arrhenius laws while in diffusion
measurements Fick's second law of diffusion will be used.