A comparative study of green composites based on tapioca starch and celluloses

• Main Authors: Owi, Wei Tieng, Lin, Ong Hui, Sam, Sung Ting, Mern, Chin Kwok, Villagracia, Al Rey, Santos, Gil Nonato C., Akil, Hazizan Md
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cellulose; Cellulose fibers; Chemical treatment; Comparative studies; Composite materials; Cotton; Differential scanning calorimetry; Elongation; Fibrous structure; Fourier transforms; Melt temperature; Organic chemistry; Scanning electron microscopy; Tapioca; Tensile properties; Thermal stability; Thermogravimetric analysis; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/1.4993361

The objective of this study was to compare the properties of green composites based on tapioca starch (TS) and celluloses isolated from empty fruit bunches (EFB) and commercial celluloses from cotton linter (supplied by Sigma). Empty fruit bunches (EFB) acted as the main source to obtain the cellulose by using a chemical approach whereas the commercial cellulose from Sigma was used as reference. The TS/cellulose composite films were prepared using cellulose in varying proportions as filler into TS matrix by a casting method. The amount of celluloses added into the tapioca starch were 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 phr (as per dry mass of TS). The celluloses were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTTR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). While the green composite films were analyzed in terms of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), SEM and tensile properties. FTTR analysis confirmed the removal of non-cellulosic materials such as hemicelluloses and lignin from raw EFB after the chemical treatment. XRD diffractograms revealed that the crystallinity of celluloses EFB increased from 43.1 % of raw EFB to 52.1 %. SEM images showed the fibrillar structure of cellulose isolated from EFB. The TGA and derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) curves of green composite films showed no significant effect on the thermal stability. Melting temperature of TS/cellulose EFB higher than neat TS while TS/cellulose Sigma lower than neat TS. The green composite films with 15 phr cellulose from EFB filler loading provided the best tensile properties in term of its strength and modulus. However, in term of elongation at break, the percentage elongation decreased with the increased of the amount of filler loading. SEM images of the films demonstrated a good interaction between cellulose filler and TS matrix especially with the addition of 15 phr of cellulose from EFB.