Effect Of Cogon Grass Fibre On The Thermal, Physical And Environmental Characteristic Of Thermoplastic Cassava Starch

Asyul Sultan Saidi, Zulhelmi (2018) Effect Of Cogon Grass Fibre On The Thermal, Physical And Environmental Characteristic Of Thermoplastic Cassava Starch. Project Report. UTeM, Melaka, Malaysia. (Submitted)

Text (24 Pages) Effect Of Cogon Grass Fibre On The Thermal, Physical And Environmental Characteristic Of Thermoplastic Cassava Starch.pdf - Submitted Version Download (502kB)

Abstract

In recent, increasing environmental issues led to greater attention on the development of biodegradable materials. Biopolymer produced from renewable natural resources is a good alternative material for replacing petroleum-based polymer since it biodegradable and environmentally friendly. Biopolymer-based on starch is one of the most promising due to the wide availability, low cost, renewable, biodegradable and abundant in future. Cassava starch that produced from cassava is considered as a source of renewable starch. Nevertheless, the biopolymer produced from cassava starch has some drawbacks such as the poor physical properties and high water absorption has limited its potential application. One interesting method to solve this issue by using natural fiber as reinforcement for thermoplastic starch (TPS). Various modification methods were used to improve the properties of thermoplastic cassava starch (TPCS) which is blending cassava starch with glycerol and reinforcement of TPCS with cogon grass fiber. TPCS and cogon grass fiber were successfully developed by using dry-mixing and compression molding method. The modification of TPCS with cogon grass fiber is performed by incorporating a different amount of cogon grass fiber (1, 3, and 5 wt. %) into the polymer matrix. The mixture of TPCS and cogon grass fiber are prepared by pre-mixing using a high-speed mixer at 3000 rpm for 12 min. The resulting mixture is pre-mixed at 160°C for 35 min by using a compression molding machine under the load of 10 tonnes. The thermal, physical and environmental properties were investigated. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) analysis is used to study the decomposition temperature and thermal stability of materials. The thermal properties of the composite were reduced as the cogon grass fibers increase from 0 to 5%. The physical of this composites is obtained by using water absorption testing to measure the quantity amount of water absorbed by materials. Moisture absorption test is to measuring the moisture that absorbs by materials while swelling testing to determine the swelling ratio of material when immersed in water. The addition of cogon grass fibers has improved the characteristic of the composite for physical properties. In term of environmental properties, the water solubility test and soil burial test are used to determine loss of weight because of moisture and microorganism activity. The inclusion of fibers into TPCS has reduced the solubility of the composite in water and reduced the biodegradability of materials after 2 and 4 weeks. Overall, the analysis from the current study shows that TPCS modified with the inclusion of cogon grass fiber has shown improved functional characteristics than the original materials. In conclusion, the TPCS polymer reinforced with cogon grass fiber are very interesting analysis and good materials for a potential biodegradable product with intensify properties.

Actions (login required)

View Item