Starch is a naturally occurring biopolymer that, once plasticized, may be treated thermally to provide a biodegradable alternative to conventional plastics. Bio-nanocomposite blended films were prepared using sago starch as the based material by solution casting method. The effect of halloysite nanofiller loading on the properties of the bio-nanocomposite films based on sago starch were investigated. The solution was mixed with polyvinyl alcohol and glycerol as additives and reinforced with halloysite nano-clay at 1%, 2%, 3% and 5%. Fractured surface morphologies, chemical characteristics, tensile and mechanical strength, and biodegradability were assessed in all blended films. Water swelling experiments were used to assess the surface hydrophilicity and swelling behaviour of the blended films. The results revealed that film with 1% halloysite loading performs better than film with other halloysite loading with a soil degradation of 20.89%, tensile strength of 1% HNT loading is 0.0575 Pa, and degree of swelling of 1.75%. The results showed that incorporating nanofiller can significantly improve sago starch-based bio-nanocomposite films.
Funding(s)
Department of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Petronas
