Preparation and characterization of tapioca starch filled polycaprolactone composite films

Abstract

This research was conducted to develop a new biodegradable polymeric packaging material to replace the current polymer packaging without changing the requirements properties. Polycaprolactone (PCL) was chosen as the matrix because of its biodegradability characteristics. Tapioca starch was used as filler from 10 to 40 wt% loading contents. The composite films were prepared using solvent casting technique and chloroform was used as solvent to dissolve the PCL pellets. The PCL matrix showed result of higher tensile strength which was 65.9 N/mm 2 with elongation at break at approximately 731%. The addition of starch in the PCL composite films increased the tensile modulus of the films. The tensile strength of the composite films decreased with increasing starch contents. Similar trends were also observed for elongation at break of the films.