Preparation of thermoplastic starch/treated bagasse fiber composites

Abstract

The objective was to improve the properties of thermoplastic starch (TPS) by using treated bagasse fiber as a reinforcing agent. Glycerol was used as a plasticizer. The morphology of the fractured surfaces, thermal decomposition temperatures and XRD pattern of the TPS and TPS/treated bagasse fiber composites were investigated using SEM, thermal gravimetric analysis, and XRD, respectively. After immersion in 1% NaOH, the smooth surface of bagasse fiber changed to a rough surface to cause the strong adhesion between the fiber and the TPS matrix was obtained. The treated bagasse fiber decreased the ability to absorb water and also improved the stability of the TPS during storage for a long period of time. The temperature at the maximum weight loss was increased up to 345°C when using the treated bagasse fiber 20 wt%. In addition, the treated bagasse fiber can prevented the retrogradation of starch.

Properties of biodegradable thermoplastic cassava starch/sodium alginate composites prepared from injection molding

“…The change demonstrated a strong evidence of the new intermolecular interaction of hydrogen bonds between the hydroxyl group of the TPCS polymer and sodium alginate. Similar observation was also reported for the shift of the IR peak position and claimed to be due to hydrogen bonding existed between two compatibility polymers .…”

Effect of neem wood sawdust content on properties of biodegradable thermoplastic acetylated cassava starch/neem wood sawdust composites

“…The results are in good agreement with those of Pawlak and Mucha who reported that if two polymers are compatible, a hydrogen bonding would exist between the chains of the two polymers, causing the IR spectra of the composites to change . Similar observations were also observed in the case of compressed TPS polymers prepared from rice and waxy rice starch reinforced by cotton fibers and compressed TPS/bagasse fiber composites .…”

“…The water uptake values for the TPACS/30% SD composites dropped to approximately 4.7, 24.3, and 36.4% after storage at 100% RH for 1, 10, and 20 day, respectively. The decline in the water uptake upon the SD reinforcement is due to the more hydrophobic characteristics of the SD when compared with the more hydrophilic nature of the starch .…”

“…Optimal strength is achieved when good fiber dispersion is guaranteed throughout the matrix, thus avoiding agglomeration that reduces stress transfer. Water absorption has also been reported to decrease when different cellulose fibers are incorporated into TPS matrices . The degree of crystallinity and storage modulus of the TPS matrix also increase when appropriate cellulose fibers are incorporated .…”

“…Although TPS polymers have promising characteristics, the polymers possess some major limitations, especially in terms of their low tensile properties and high affinity for water. To alleviate these limitations, modification of TPS polymers with natural lignocellulosic fibers has been widely studied [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. Lignocellulosic fibers have good potential as a reinforcing fiber because they contain cellulose fibers, which exhibit high tensile strength; lignocellulosic fibers are also classified as promising renewable materials as they are abundantly available.…”