Recent trends on bioplastics synthesis and characterizations: Polylactic acid (PLA) incorporated with tapioca starch for packaging applications

Abstract Due to the large quantities of disposable plastic products affected and threaten the extinction of living organisms, this research conducted to develop bioplastics composite material made of Polylactic Acid (PLA) incorporated with tapioca starch (TS) to investigate the effect of TS as the filler towards the mechanical properties of this bioplastic. This study purposely conducted to develop material for food packaging usage limitation of usage and application below the 160o of temperature application. The amount of loading percentage of TS and PLA between 10 to 50 wt.%. Sample from this composite material has been prepared through melt blending extrusion process and injection molding method. The result showed that tensile strength was improved significantly with the addition of TS with the maximum reading was at 30 wt.% loading, and then it had gradually decreased with the additional TS. Hence, the highest tensile strength has been obtained at 9.7 MPa while plain PLA recorded at 7.7 MPa only. The outcome data from the analysis of impact testing explained that the reduction in impact when loading of TS has been increased. The addition of TS in this composite system gives better results in tensile modulus and decreased in the value of crashed impact.