Physico-chemical properties of biodegradable films of polyvinyl alcohol/sago starch for food packaging

Abstract

In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was blended with sago starch (SS) films in presence of glycerol as plasticizer. The solution was prepared using solution casting method prior irradiation using electron beam for crosslinking process. The effect of incorporation of sago starch into the PVA matrix was studied using various techniques using tensile test, FTIR, SEM and AFM-3D. FTIR spectroscopy was used to check the sago presence in the PVA matrix. Obtained results from the AFM-3D shows that PVA/SS films have relatively rougher surface topography which contributed to the chemically attached sago starch onto the PVA materials as compared to the raw films. Tensile test results revealed that film without starch has higher tensile strength compare to films with starch.