The development and the utilization of starch as packaging materials that were eco-friendly, renewable and biodegradable had increased in recent years. In this study, cassava starch was modified into composite by adding glycerol as plasticizer and oil palm empty fruit bunches microcrystalline cellulose (OPEFBMCC) as fillers. The MCC was prepared via the pulping process of OPEFB and acid hydrolysis. The composites were cast into films by variations in glycerol and MCC composition. The effect of glycerol andOPEFBMCC loading on tensile properties and water absorption of composite were investigated. Results showed that MCC content at 10% created denser composite surface and enhanced the interfacial adhesion which led the tensile strength increased but the elongation at break decreased. The filler loading also reduced the diffusion of water molecules and water absorption. However, the addition of glycerol in cassava starch composite to any of MCC composition lowered the tensile strength but increased the water absorption. SEM images revealed that the addition of MCC in composite constructed the linkages among starch, glycerol, and MCC.
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