  In this research, eutectic-based ionic liquid specifically choline
chloride/glycerol was prepared at a 1:2 mole ratio. The choline
chloride/glycerol was added with the different content of surfactant
(hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide). The choline
chloride/glycerol-hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide was introduced into
high-density polyethylene/agar biocomposites through melt mixing. The
mechanical testing results indicated that the impact strength and tensile
extension of the biocomposites increased with the introduction of the choline
chloride/glycerol-hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide. The scanning electron
microscope, differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravimetric analysis
results exhibited that significant decrease in the number of agar fillers
pull-out, melting point and thermal decomposition temperatures of the
biocomposites are also due to the choline
chloride/glycerol-hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide. The Fourier transform
infrared spectra and X-ray diffractometer patterns of the biocomposites
introduced with the choline chloride/glycerol-hexadecyltrimethylammonium
bromide demonstrate the presence of physical interactions, which contributes to
the increase of compatibility between both high-density polyethylene and agar.
In conclusion, high-density polyethylene/agar biocomposites could be
compatibilized with eutectic-based ionic liquid containing surfactant, choline
chloride/glycerol-hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide.

Chemical Physics