Assessment of Energy Band Gap and Mechanical Characterization of Sustainable Bio-Composite of Polypropylene and Thermoplastic Starch

Energy band gap, Tensile property, % elongation, Flexural properties of the thermoplastic starch and polypropylene (PP) based bio-composite have been investigated in this research work. Content of the thermoplastic starch as filler in polypropylene matrix was kept at 15, 20 and 25%, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was done for the molecular signature of the constituent polymer, UV-Vis spectroscopy was done for absorbance pattern and consequent energy band gap assessment, mechanical characterizations of the composite materials were also done. In comparison to pure PP, bio-composite with 20% starch content revealed substantial improvement in tensile strength and flexural modulus by 3.5% and 100.9 % respectively, however, when compared with those having starch content of 15% and 25%, composite with 20% starch yielded better energy band gap, improved % elongation and enhanced flexural strength. Research findings although suggests improved tensile and flexural properties even after the integration of starch as biofilter in PP matrix, however, significant decrease in the energy band gap of all the formulations were observed simultaneously.