EVA hot-melt adhesive with thermoplastic starch blends compatibilized by modified maleic anhydride

Abstract Hot melt adhesives based on blends of poly (ethylene-co-vinyl acetate), (EVA), and thermoplastic starch modified with citric acid (TPS), compatibilized with polyolefin grafted with maleic anhydride (PO-g-MA) were prepared. The materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of fragile fractured surface, rotational viscosimeter (Brookfield) and FTIR. SEM showed interfacial failure in non-compatibilized blends and a decrease in the size of TPS dispersed phase as compatibilizer is added. When adding 5 and 7% of the compatibilizer, results from the viscosimeter indicated increase of 85% and 109% in viscosity, respectively. FTIR showed a dislocation in the absorption of hydrogen bands and ester linkages. These results indicated the effectiveness of the polyolefin functionalized. In performance analysis, compatibilized blends with 25% TPS, exhibited greater adhesion compared to standard hot melt adhesive at low application temperature (140°C), which demonstrates great potential for natural materials in adhesive’s industry.