Thermal degradation of biodegradable blends of polyethylene with cellulose and ethylcellulose

Blends based on LDPE and cellulose or ethylcellulose were prepared under high-temperature shear deformations in a rotor disperser at different initial ratios of the components. The composition of powder fractions was identical to the initial composition of the blends. The studied polymer blends demonstrated high mechanical characteristics. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the blending of LDPE with cellulose and ethylcellulose under conditions of shear deformation results in changes in the polymer structure and leads to a decrease of their crystallinity. The peculiarities of thermal degradation of the obtained blends were discussed in detail. The observed results were interpreted by the model kinetic analysis based on TGA.

► LDPE–cellulose/ethylcellulose blends were prepared under action of shear deformations.
► Destruction proceeds in the whole volume of sample.
► Rate constants are determined by the mutual diffusion of the reagents.
► Diffusion is one of the limiting stages of the thermal destruction process.