Author : Salit, Mohd Sapuan

Summary : Novel biocomposite film materials, 100 percent environmentally friendly with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as reinforcement in sugar palm starch (SPS)-based thermoplastic matrix were prepared through casting method. The cellulose content in the composite films varied from 0 to 10 percent w/w. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM), the morphology of the composite films was analyzed. This work is focused on the effects of MCC content on the mechanical and water vapor permeability (WVP) properties of the composites. Incorporation of the MCC to the SPS matrix increased the tensile strength, while the elongation at break decreased with MCC loading. The tensile strength value for the composite with 10 percent w/w of MCC was found maximum (11.30 MPa). Adding 1 percent MCC content significantly reduced the WVP of the composite film by 66.41 percent compared with the neat SPS film. Overall, the incorporation of MCC in the SPS-based films improved the mechanical strength and water barrier properties of the environmentally friendly composite films.