Effect of Microcrystalline Cellulose as a Filler on the Properties of Linear Low-Density Polyethylene/Thermoplastic Starch Blends

Abstract. This study investigates the influence of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as a filler on the mechanical and structural properties of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)/thermoplastic starch (TPS) blends. MCC was incorporated at varying concentrations (3%-12%) into LLDPE/TPS (70/30) using an internal mixer. The resulting composites were evaluated for their tensile properties, fracture morphology, functional group interactions, and crystallinity using a universal tensile testing machine, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The findings indicate that MCC incorporation enhances mechanical performance at lower concentrations, but excessive loading results in reduced tensile strength due to filler agglomeration. The study provides insights into optimizing MCC content for biodegradable polymer composites.