Polystyrene Waste Recycling Process as an Alternative Antistatic Packaging Raw Material

Abstract

Composite synthesis from styrofoam (polystyrene-based) was carried out by solvent blending method in which the solvent used was gasoline. The carbon black (CB) was used as filler comes from coconut shells. The samples were given a variation of filler composition: 0, 1, 3, and 5% of the total weight of the composite to be formed. In this method, stirring was carried out for at least 120 minutes (200 rpm in atmospheric conditions). The stirring process is carried out until the mixture becomes homogeneous, as indicated by the slurry formation. After that, the process continues to the printing stage using glass mold and drying in a windy room that is sufficiently exposed to sunlight for 3 days. The sample obtained is a composite measuring 8 cm x 8 cm. The tests carried out were the ATR-FTIR, SEM, conductivity, and mechanical tests. From the results of the ATR-FTIR test, there was no visible difference between the styrofoam before being treated with the composites, thus proving that the solvent had evaporated. The results of the SEM test show that there are lumps in the sample with higher filler concentrations, so it is possible to need additional time or stirring speed to distributed the filler evenly. Meanwhile, the conductivity test proved that the addition of carbon-based filler could increase the conductivity of the composites.