Preparation and characterization of starch/empty fruit bunch-based bioplastic composites reinforced with epoxidized oils
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2020
Abstract
This study examined the development of starch/oil palm empty fruit bunch-based bioplas-tic composites reinforced with either epoxidized palm oil (EPO) or epoxidized soybean oil (ESO), at various concentrations, in order to improve the mechanical and water-resistance properties of the bio-composites. The SEM micrographs showed that low content (0.75 wt%) of epoxidized oils (EOs), especially ESO, improved the compatibility of the composites, while high content (3 wt%) of EO induced many voids. The melting temperature of the composites was increased by the in-corporation of both EOs. Thermal stability of the bioplastics was increased by the introduction of ESO. Low contents of EO led to a huge enhancement of tensile strength, while higher contents of EO showed a negative effect, due to the phase separation. The tensile strength increased from 0.83 MPa of the control sample to 3.92 and 5.42 MPa for the composites with 1.5 wt% EPO and 0.75 wt% ESO, respectively. EOs reduced the composites’ water uptake and solubility but increased the water vapor permeability. Overall, the reinforcing effect of ESO was better than EPO. These results suggested that both EOs can be utilized as modifiers to prepare starch/empty-fruit-bunch-based bioplastic composites with enhanced properties. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Keywords
starch, empty fruit bunch, epoxidized palm oil, epoxidized soybean oil, compatibilizer
Divisions
fac_eng,CHEMISTRY
Funders
Financial support from the Ministry of Education Malaysia, PR005-2017A,University Malaya research grants ST007-2019 and GPF002A-2019
Publication Title
Polymers
Volume
13
Issue
1
Publisher
MDPI