STUDIES ON CORN STARCH FILLED POLY (STYRENE-CO-BUTYL ACRYLATE) LATEX REINFORCED POLYESTER NONWOVEN FABRIC COMPOSITES

Abstract

Poly (styrene-co-butyl acrylate) latex was prepared with a 70:30 weight ratio of styrene to butyl acrylate. Various weight percentages of cornstarch were incorporated into the prepared copolymer latex. Polyester nonwoven fabric reinforced-cornstarch-filled copolymer latex composites were manufactured by the impregnation method. The pickup ratio of latex to fabric was maintained at 3.2:1. The composites’ physico-mechanical properties, percent water absorption and percent thickness swelling were studied. The manufactured cornstarch-filled composites were evaluated for their ability to retain their shape after being moulded to the desired shape by measuring the percentage area, shape retention, hardness and resilience. It was observed that the manufactured thermoplastic composite specimens retained or increased their mechanical properties up to 20 wt% cornstarch loading.