Characterization of Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)/Carbon Black (CB) Nanocomposite-Based Packaging Material

Journalof Physics:ConferenceSeries

PAPER.OPENACCESS

(LDPE)/carbon
Characterization
of low-densitypolyethylene
black(CB)
packagingmaterial
nanocomposite-based
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The 8th International Conference on Theoretical ard Applied Physics
IOP Conf. Series:JournalofPhysics: Conf. Series1120(2018)012066

IOP Publishing
doi:10.1088/1742-5596lt1D:}nrct}066

Characterization of low-density polyethylene (LDPE)/carbon
black (CB) nanocomposite-basedpackaging material
Zikri Noerr, Nasruddin MNt, Nurdin Bukit2, Juwairiah3,susilawatirn
rDepartment
of Physics, University of Sumatera lJtara, Indonesia
Department of Physics, State University of Medan, Indonesia
'Religious Training Center of Medan, Indonesia

Ikhwanuddinr

* E-mail: zikrinoer@gmail.com
Abstracl Carbon black (CB) has the ability to be used as a filler to inrprove the thennal and
mechanicalproperties of the packaging material. This study aimed to determinethe effect of CB
composition variations as a filler on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) nanoconrpositeto physical
properties, rnechanical propertias, and thermal properties. The fabrication of LDPE/CB
nanocomposite-based

packagingmaterial was performed by hot press and cold press method with
LDPUCB compositionvariations of 95: 5, 90:10" 85:15 and 80:20 7ofi. The effects of CB as filler
on LDPE thermoplastic were characterizedusing FTIR, XRD, SEM, UTM, and TGA. The result of
IR spectra analysis showed that the interaction between LDPE and CB in ttre solution was limited
to physical bonds, the analysis using XRD generally follows the LDPE diffraction pauern. The
most optimum composition result obtained from the variation of 5Vowt CB, where the surface
morphology using SEM of it tends to agglomerate"the mechanical analysis using UTM showed a
tensile strength of 21.45 MPa elongation at 436.21 mrn, and rnodulus yotang?y';6.22MP4 and
thermal analysisusing TGA showedchmges massat a decompositiontemperatureof 488.70 "C.

I. Introduction
In recent years the need for polymers in human life has increasedrapidly, even including as a primary
need,one of which is shown by its use as packaging(1). Packagingis a much-neededcomponentof food
manufacturing and food supply processes.Packaging serves to control product exposure to the effects of
oxygen, light, steam, and water and bacterial contamination. The packaging sector is one of the most
important global industries representing about 2o/oof Gross National Producr (GNP) from developed
countries (2). This is shown in a brief data evaluation in which developed countries show nearly 98Vaof
packagingproducts, especiallyin widely used food packagingconsisting of plastic, paper, glass,metals,
and polymer matrix composites(3).
Polyrner firatrix composite (PMC) is the most promising nraterial in this century, the structure consists

of two phases,narnely filler (reinforcement) in the form of carbon'particles and the rnatrix in the form of
polymers (4). PMC is one of the alternative materials used in packaging materials becauseit has a
lightweight, easy to form, high strength and toughness,is not easy to absorb rnoisture and high corrosion

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The 8th International Conference on Theoretical and Applied Physics
IOP Conf. Series:JournalofPhysics: Conf. Series1120(2018)012066

lOP Publishing
doi:10.1088/1742-659611120111012066

resistance.In general,packagingmaterial has severaldisadvantages,namely having a low melting point
and tensile srength and easily defcrming which causesearly damageto the packaging material (5).
Therefore,good quality packagingmaterialsare neededwhich have high melting point propertiesto be
resistant to temperature and have good mechanical properties. A way to improve the two properties of the
packaging material is by adding Cabon Black (CB) to the Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) material.
CB is amaterial consistingaf 97Vacarbon elementsand (0.2 - l.SVo) elementsof oxygen andhydrogen.

CB has a very small particle diameter and the inter-particle affangement is mutually tight to each other so
that there is cohesivenessbond between CB and LDPE matrix which forms a sffong covalent bond (6).
This is consistent wittr several studies which show that the compatibility of a filler material with a polyrner
matrix can be influenced by the particle size of a filling material, where the panicle size of a small filler
material can insreasE the degree of polymer strengthening compared to a larger size, the smaller the
particle size the higher the bond between the filling material and the polymer matrix (7).
In this research, LDPE nanocomposite-basedpackaging materials have been made with CB
reinforcementrnaterial with various compositionsusing conventionalhot and cold press.This is done to
determine the proper process pararnecersor conditions in the manufacrure of LDPE nanocompositesand
CB which are used as packaging materials that have high thermal resistance and good mechanical
properties. To find out the successof LDPE and CB preparation results, physical characterization includes
XRD, SEM, and FTIR, mechanical properties including elongation at break, tensile strength, and modulus
of elasticity as well as thermal properties including TGA test.
tr. Method
The equipment used in this study consisted of a set of glass tools, analyrical balance, 200 mesh sieve, ball
mill, hot plate & magneticstirrer. oven, internal mixer, samplemold, cutting machine,Hot and Cold Press
Hydraulic, SEM-EDS, FTTR, XRD, IJTM, and TGA. The ma0erial used is thermoplastic Low-Density
Polyethylene {LDPE) produced by PT. Nusantara Petrochemical Interindo. Carbon Black (Carbomax),
Aquadest,HC:L 37Vo,and NFI+OH.
LDPE-CB nanocomposite in this study was made by mixing thermoplastic LDPE materials and CB

with internal mixers for 10 minutes at 150t until evenly (homogeneously) with variations in LDPE
composition:CB, namely (95: 5, 90:10, 85: 15 and 80:20) Vowt.Thenput into a squaremold with a plate
thicknessof 0.1 cm, I I cm long, and I I cm wide. After that, printing is done by printing hot pressfor 15
minutes at 150"C printing tcmperature, followed by cold pressurefor 5 minutes at 22"C, then the sample
in sheet form is removed from the mold. The printout is then cut to the test sample using a JIS K678
cutting machine. To see*re effect of CB addition on LDPE thermoplastic, physical tests (XRD and SEM)
were carried otrt, mechanical tests (elongation at break, tensile strength and modulus young) and thermal
test (TGA) on eachfabricatednanccomposite.
III. Result and Discussions
The results of x-ray diffraction analysis of CB in Figure I shows that the maximum peak diffraction
pattern at the inter*lattice angle 26: 264.3375' with spacingbetweenfields is d = 1.44680A, FW}ilI =
A.2Z98Oand the peak intensity is 459 a.u.

The 8th International Conferenceon Theorefical and Applied Physics
IOP Conf. Series:JournalofPhysics: Confl.Seriesf120{2018) 012066

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IOP Publishing
doi:10.1088i1742-659611t20111012066

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Figure l. Carbon Black XRD resulrs
The results of the x-ray diffraction pattern analysisusing Match! Version3 software(Figure 1) obtained
the highest peak is the compound that dominatesas CB constituent material, C (carbon) which has a
rhombohedralcrystal structure and odentation of the crystal plane [0 0 21] with lattice parametersa =
2.5222 A and c = 43.3450 A. Whereas small peaks with weak diffraction intensity are CaO (Calcium
Oxide) compoundswith the crientation value of the crystal field, namely 120 01.
From the results of x-ray diffraction peaks,we can obtain fhe diameterof the CB diameterby using the
Scherrerequation:

D= #

(r)

with B, r, k, and Ji are the half-peak width (FWHM) in radians.Scherrerconstanrs(0.9), x-ray (1.5406 A)
wavelengthsobtained by CB particle size around 36.74 nm. To do the morphological analysis of CB,
ScanningElectron Microscope-EnergyDispersionSpectroscopy(SEM-EDS) is used.

tr'igure 2. Morphology of CarbonBlack
Based on the observationsin Figure 2 CB shows that the surfacemorphology is shapedlike irregular
glassflakes and is classifiedas amorphous.While the dominatin! elementsare carbon (C) 86.07 Vawt,
oxygen (O) 13.37 VawtawJcalcium (Ca) 0.56 Towt(figure 3).

The 8th InternationalConferenceon TheoreticalandApplied Physics
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IOP Conf.Series:Joumalof Physics:Conf.Series1120(2018)012fi66 doi:10.1088/1742-559511120111012066

Figure 3. Graph of elementscontained in carton black
Intermolecular interactions in LDPE-CB nanocomposite formation can be obtained from FTIR testing.
The FT-IR test results are obtained in the form of a spectrum that illustrates the magnitude ofVo
Transmittance and wave number for LDPE-CB nanocomposites {Figure 4). In the IR spectra, the
absorptionpeak at wave number 29l5.ll - 2U7.4I shows stretchingvibration absorptionfor -CH of the

alkane.Whereasfor absorptionpeaksat numbers 1462.35-1377.87showsthat therehas been an extension
of the polymer chain for the asymmetry -CH functional group with CH3. The widening of absorption
peaksat numbers729-25,719.03.573.M, 531.14 and 513.46which showschangesin the shapeof -CH
groups in mixed solutions. The result of IR spectra analysis shows the appearanceof LDPE-CB
nanocomposite absorption characteristics and the absenceof new groups from the mixture indicates that
the results of LDPE-CB nanocompositeinteractions in solution are limited to physical bonds.
.---'

gu* -'.

iit!

ili
iiu

ij

I

il

ii

li

t:
u

Figure 4. Comparisonffitu

T*#i

rff

rffi

s

for LDPE-Carbon Black Nanocompositesof various compositions

From the analysis of the combined dffiaction pattern data (Figure 5) CB nanocomposite XRD, ttre
diffraction pattem generally follows the pure LDPE diffraction pattern. The addition of CB with the
composition (5, 10, 15, 20) Vowt only experienceda shift in the intensity of the diffraction peak not too
significant. This indicates that the thermoplastic LDPE nanocomposite with CB filler does not have a
perfect bond, causinga decreasein tensile strengthand elongatiorlat break of nanocompositesdue to the
CB crystal structure with LDPE.

The 8th International Conference on Theoretical and Applied Physics
IOP Publishing
IOP Conf.Series:Journalof Physics:Conf.Series1120(2018)012066 doi;10.1088/1742-6595/1120/11012066

__

_

LD{'E 95% + CB 5o/o

LDPE 90% + CB .1
- LDPE85% + CB 1
+

d

e
q

Figure 5. Comparisonof X-ray Diffoaction

for LDPE-CarbonBlack Nanocompositesof Various
"-."*
Compositions

The morphology of the sampleswas analyzed using SEM to obtain further information about the effect
of adding CB weight composition on the mechanical propedies of the resulting LDPE nanocomposites
and to see the distribution of fillers in the matrix. LDPE-CB nanocompositeswface morphology results
for optimum mix ratio with less optirmrm.

(a)
(b)
Figure 6 {a) 95VaLDPE morphology and 5Vocarbon black;
{b) SOqoLDPE morphology andAATocarbonblack
In Figure 6 (a) and Figure 6 (b) there is a thermoplastic LDPE nanocomposite morphology with CB
fillers with a compositian of SVo and ZOVI.From the figure, it appearsthat nanocompositestend to
agglomerate with the addi{ion of composition becauseCB is hydrophobic which tends to separatewith
LDPE so the sudace enerey gets higlrer.

The 8th InternationalConferenceon TheoreticalandApplied Physics
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IOP Conf.Series:JournalofPhysics:Conf.Series1120(2018)012066 doi:10.1088/l'742-659611120111012066

7AA

p 600
E 500
6 400
E 3oo

f zoo

r LDPE: CB

tr 100
0

1 0 0 :O 9 5 :5

9 0 :1 0 8 5 :15 80:20

Composition {%wt}

Figure 7. Elongation of Carbon Black
In Figure 7, it can be seenthat with the increasein CB, the elongation of the drop decreases.The
tensile strengthtest resultson the CB compositionare shown in Figure 8.
25.00

^a!

* zo.oo

!bo rs.oo
5 ro.oo
s.oo
3
'E o.oo
o,

r LDPE: CB

1 0 0 : O 9 5 :5

9 0 : 1 O 8 5 : 15 80: 20

Composition {96wt}

.

FiSure t. Tensile Strength of Carbon Black

In Figure 8 above, it can be seenthat increasing CB causesdecreasedtensile strength. The test results
of a modulus of elasticiry on CB composition are shown in Figure 9.
400

3oo
E
o
{Szo o

T E100

r LDPE: CB

E
?

o

E0
1 0 0 : O 9 5 :5 9 O ; 1 0 8 5 : 15 8O:20
Composition (96wtl

Figure 9. Modulus Young of Carbon Black

I

The SthInternationalConferenceon TheoreticalandApplied Physics
IOP Publishing
IOP Conf.Series:JournalofPhysics:Conf.Series1120(2018)
012066 doi:10.1088i1742-5596lln0nl[2066

Figure 9 showsthat increasingCB content causesthe modulus of elasticity to increase.The results of
mechanical lests on thermoplastic LDPE nanocomposite sampleswith CB fillers showed tensile strength,
elongation and the modulus of elasticity occurred in successivequality decreasesranging from the
composition af 5-2OVo.This is due to the high carbon (C) content and the existence of a lump which is
believed to be a place of stress concenkation and the initial occurrence cf a decreasein strength which
results in the nanocompositebeing brittle or easily cracked. This is the sameas research(8).
The decreasein the tensile strength and elongation of the break is also caused by an increase in ttre
interaction processofpoor adhesionforce, can be seenfrom the increase in the pivot that arises and results
in poor interaction befween materials. The particle size has a relationship to the surface area per gram of
filling material. The small particle size produces a large surface area on matrix polymers and fillers so as
to enhance the soengthening of polymeric nr,aterials.This is consistent with the results of the study (7)
which statesttrat the surface area can be increasedby the presenceof a surface that is a pivot or caviry on
the filling surface.Polymerscan enterthe surfacethat is shaftedduring the mixing process.Homogeneous
scattered particles increase interaction through absorption of the polymer over the surface of the filler
material. Conversely, particles fhat me not scatteredhomogeneously may produce lumps in the polymer
matrix. The presence of lumps in the polymer matrix reduces fhe surface area then causesinteraction
between fillers, the matrix weakens and results in a decreasein the physical properties of polymeric
materials(8).

'Y-'

1I

'f'&,
t

1
I

"*,,Ji**
:*i - - ^ ''-'-"-& i -

"."-'- -"

,i l

l.3t1sl.h1"4j1

(a)
(b)
Figure 10. (a) Thermogram95ToLDPE and5Tocarbonblack;
(b) Thennogram 807oLDPE and2O%carbon black

Figure 10a and 10b on LDPE nanocomposite with CB filler material, it can be seen that the
composition of SVowith decomposition tenrperature488.70 "C changes in mass 96.017oweight, while at
composition 20Vawith a temperature of 490. I I oC changesin mass 9 | .827oweight. The more temperature
changes,the greater the mass change,this is becausewhen the nanocompositereceivesheat the matrix
undergoes an exothermic reaction, where the nanocompositesemit heat which causesphysical changes
(deformation) and chemistry which eventually form carbon residues.The inter-panicle bonds that occur in
nanocompositematerials play an important role in increasing and limiting material properties. Nano-sized
particles have a high interaction surface area. The more particles interact, the higher the thermal
conductivity. However, the addition of nanoparticleswill not always improve thermal properties, there are
certain limits which, when added, thermal properties actually degrease.But in general, nanocomposite
materials show differences in thermal, mechanical, electrical, optical, elestrochemical, catalyst, and
sffucture properties compared to their consticuentmaterials (9).

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The 8th International Conference on Theoretical and Applied Physics

W. Conclusions
The effect of adding CB on LDPE thermoplastic was carried out in this study. From the results of the
study, it was found that the CB particle size was about 36-74 nm and the dominating compound as a
constituent material was C (earbon) which had a rhombohedral crystal structure. The addition of CB to
thermoplastic LDPE as a nanocomposite fill material for packaging material applications is able to
withstand heat wsll and is not easily degradedby temperature. This result is supported by the decreasing
particle size distribution with increasing thermal properties added and IR spectra which give results that
only physical bonds occur. The optimum composition results in CB 5% weight filler where the surface
morphology analysis tends to agglomerate,the results of the mechanical analysis showed a tensile strength
of 21.45MPa, elongationat break 436.21mm, and modulusyoung 246.22MPa, and thermalanalysiswith
the decomposition temperatureof 488.70 "C changesin mass.
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