Environmental And Physical Properties Of Thermoplastic Cassava Starch Beeswax Reinforced With Sugarcane Bagasse Fiber

Mohamad Fodzi, Nurul’Ain Haniyun (2019) Environmental And Physical Properties Of Thermoplastic Cassava Starch Beeswax Reinforced With Sugarcane Bagasse Fiber. Project Report. Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Melaka, Malaysia. (Submitted)

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Abstract

The non-biodegradable plastic has been causing many environmental to the flora and fauna due to its presence in the environment. Hence, many studies have been conducted recently in search for a new material that is more environmentally friendly and sustainable since the resources for the production of plastic, the petroleum, is nearing its end. Starch have become a focus to the recent studies due to its sustainability, abundant availability and also the capability of the starch to degrade in the natural environment easily. Other than that, the utilization of sugarcane bagasse fiber as the reinforcement have been gaining attention as it could reinforce the strength of the renewable material yet capable of degrading under natural condition and it is also highly available since it is abundantly disposed after the juice extraction. Due to the hydrophilic properties of the starch, the modification of the materials was conducted to improve the properties of the biopolymer. The modification includes the incorporation of the sugarcane bagasse fiber from 10 wt.% to 30 wt.% into the modified TPCS incorporated with beeswax. The physical and environmental properties on the modified material were then analyzed. The modification was successfully developed that starts with hand mixing the starch, glycerol, beeswax and sugarcane bagasse fiber are followed by mixing using a high-speed blender. The mixture then undergoes hot compression molding to form a sample of the new material. The analysis conducted on the new material shows that the incorporation of sugarcane bagasse fiber to the modified TPCS in general have improved the physical and environmental properties of the material. From the water absorption testing it was found that composite with 30wt.% fiber loading absorbed the least water compared to the other samples. However, the thickness swelling results indicate that the sample with 30wt.% fiber loading increase in its thickness the most. As for the moisture absorption found that the increase in fiber loading reduces the moisture absorption of the composite and sample with 30 wt.% fiber loading have the least moisture absorbed. In terms of environmental properties, it was found that the incorporation of 30wt.% sugarcane bagasse fiber reduces the weight reduction of the 2 and 4 weeks soil burial samples. Yet the solubility of the 30 wt.% composite is highest among all of the composites. Based on the results, it was seen that the incorporation of the sugarcane bagasse fiber to the modified thermoplastic cassava starch is improved the composite properties as compared to the matrix material without the reinforcement. In conclusion, the material has better potential to be commercialize is better with the new modification, other than its advantages of lower cost, more environmentally friendly and sustainable. The potential application for such biopolymer would be packaging and product with short lifespan.

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