Characterization of chitosan/montmorillonite hybrid filled tapioca starch nanocomposite films

Biodegradable nanocomposite films from chitosan/montmorillonite (MMT) hybrid filled plasticized tapioca starch (TPS) were developed using a solution casting method. Chitosan was extracted from local shrimp shell resources with the degree of deacetylation of 60.85%. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that the interlayer spacing of the chitosan/MMT/TPS nanocomposite films was slightly increased, indicated that the chitosan molecules were too large to intercalate into clay galleries. However, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis found that the chitosan/MMT/TPS nanocomposite films producing more homogeneous distribution of MMT nanoclay particulate compared to the MMT/TPS nanocomposite films. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis showed that the shifting in amino group peak of chitosan indicated that the physical interaction occurred between hydroxyl groups (OH) of MMT and amino groups (NH2) of chitosan. In addition, the broad stretch of OH was also shifted to lower wavelength number proven that hydrogen bonding was formed among starch, MMT and chitosan. It was found that the tensile properties improved in flexibility with moderate strength upon addition of chitosan in MMT/TPS nanocomposite films while the thermal stabilities improved upon addition of MMT in starch films but decreased with the addition of chitosan. The water vapor transmission rate of MMT/TPS films decreased after adding chitosan and the condition was the same for water absorption of the films. The light absorbance was also lowered upon addition of chitosan. Overall, addition of MMT and chitosan improved the TPS film properties that intended for packaging application purposes

Mechanical properties of chitosan modified montmorillonite filled tapioca starch nanocomposite films

This study was carried out to develop renewable and degradable plastics film with good mechanical properties. The mechanical properties between compatibilized montmorillonite (MMT)/chitosan filled tapioca starch (TPS), uncompatibilized MMT/TPS, and chitosan/TPS nanocomposite films were investigated. Experimental works were started with the extraction of local chitosan from chitin derived from prawn shells which involving deprotenization, demineralization and deacetylation treatments. Degree of deacetylation of chitosan was determined using infrared spectroscopy method. Chitosan was acted as compatibilizer between MMT and starch in order to improve the dispersion of MMT in nanocomposite systems. Nanocomposite films were prepared using a solution casting method with addition of glycerol as the plasticizer. The starch solution was cast onto PTFE mold with cavity thickness of 0.5mm. Characterizations of the nanocomposite films were done using Fourier Transform Infrared Analysis (FTIR). Tensile properties of nanocomposites were investigated. The compatibilized nanocomposite films, chitosan/MMT/TPS give significant effects to tensile properties. Chitosan has played its role as the compatibilizer and also as flexibility improvers to nanocomposite films because elongation at break improved after addition of chitosan

Flexural and impact properties of poly (vinyl chloride) and acrylic-impact modified poly (vinyl chloride) composite filled with poly (methyl methacrylate) grafted to oil palm empty fruit bunches

Effects of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fiber and OPEFB grafted with poly (methyl methacrylate) on mechanical properties of poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) and acrylic-impact modified PVC were investigated. The formulations were blended into sheets on a two-roll mill. Test specimens were then hot-pressed. The flexural strength increased, the flexural modulus decreased, and the impact strength relatively constant with the incorporation of grafted fiber. The impact strength of grafted composite improved after acrylic impact modifier (AIM) was added into the grafted composite matrix compared to ungrafted and grafted composite without AIM. The flexural strength and modulus of grafted composite decreased with the addition of AIM

Mechanical and physical properties of chitosan-compatibilized montmorillonite-filled tapioca starch nanocomposite films

Chitosan-compatibilized montmorillonite-filled plasticized tapioca starch (thermoplastic starch) nanocomposite films were produced using a solution casting method. Chitosan used was prepared and produced from the local shrimp shells. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the interlayer spacing of the chitosan-compatibilized montmorillonite/thermoplastic starch films was slightly increased which indicated that the chitosan was too large to intercalate into the clay galleries. However, a scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that the compatibilized films produced a more homogeneous distribution of montmorillonite nanoclay particulate compared to the uncompatibilized films. The water vapor transmission rate, water absorption, and light absorbance thermoplastic starch films decreased with increasing chitosan and decreasing montmorillonite content. The increased chitosan content from 5 to 9 wt% with decreased montmorillonite content from 7 to 3 wt% improved flexibility about 53%, water resistance 66%, water vapor transmission rate resistance 9%, and thermoplastic starch film light transmission with a moderate decrease, tensile strength about 12% and tensile modulus about 99%. Generally, the chitosan successfully acted as a compatibilizing agent between montmorillonite and starch by improving the properties, particularly on film flexibility, which is utilized for food packaging