Paper Title
INFLUENCE OF RICE STRAW INCORPORATION ON THE MECHANICAL AND BIODEGRADABILITY CHARACTERISTICS OF POLY (POLYETHYLENE-G-ACRYLIC ACID)

Abstract
A polyethylene/acrylic copolymer was synthesized using a grafting technique with benzoyl peroxide as a catalyst and xylene as a solvent. Acrylic acid (AA) was grafted onto polyethylene (PE) in a 1:5 ratio. The resulting grafted copolymer, characterized by FTIR, was blended with rice straw at varying ratios of 3%, 5%, and 7% to produce biodegradable films. The properties of these films in water were evaluated through analyses of viscosity, tensile strength, elongation at break, water contact angle, and solubility. Incorporating rice straw enhanced the grafted copolymer's biodegradability, resulting in increased viscosity, tensile strength, and elongation at break of the films, while reducing the water contact angle and solubility. However, incorporating 7% rice straw in the grafted copolymer-based on PE (1.0%) and AA (5.0%) resulted in increases in viscosity, tensile strength, and elongation at break by 29.5%, 46.1%, and 9.6%, respectively, while reducing the contact angle and biodegradability solubility time at 45°C by 25.8%. Biography - I hold a PhD in Biotechnology and Organic Chemical Technology. My work focuses on the development and application of biopolymers derived from renewable resources. I specialize in the synthesis, modification, and characterization of biodegradable polymer materials for sustainable industrial use. My research interests include green chemistry approaches and the integration of biotechnology into polymer science. I have experience in experimental design and analytical techniques for polymer evaluation. I regularly participate in international scientific conferences and collaborate on interdisciplinary projects aimed at advancing environmentally friendly technologies and biopolymer innovations. Keywords - Polyethylene, Acrylic Acid, Rice Straw, Biodegradable, Mechanical, Sustainability