Lai Di Sheng, Osman Azlin Fazlina, Adnan Sinar Arzuria, Ibrahim Ismail, Alrashdi Awad A, Ahmad Salimi Midhat Nabil, Ul-Hamid Anwar
Faculty of Chemical Engineering Technology, University Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Arau 02600, Malaysia.
Biomedical and Nanotechnology Research Group, Center of Excellence Geopolymer and Green Technology (CEGeoGTech), Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Arau 02600, Malaysia.
Polymers (Basel). 2021 Mar 15;13(6):897. doi: 10.3390/polym13060897.
Thermoplastic starch (TPS) hybrid bio-composite films containing microcrystalline cellulose (C) and nano-bentonite (B) as hybrid fillers were studied to replace the conventional non-degradable plastic in packaging applications. Raw oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) was subjected to chemical treatment and acid hydrolysis to obtain C filler. B filler was ultra-sonicated for better dispersion in the TPS films to improve the filler-matrix interactions. The morphology and structure of fillers were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). TPS hybrid bio-composite films were produced by the casting method with different ratios of B and C fillers. The best ratio of B/C was determined through the data of the tensile test. FTIR analysis proved the molecular interactions between the TPS and the hybrid fillers due to the presence of polar groups in their structure. XRD analysis confirmed the intercalation of the TPS chains between the B inter-platelets as a result of well-developed interactions between the TPS and hybrid fillers. SEM images suggested that more plastic deformation occurred in the fractured surface of the TPS hybrid bio-composite film due to the higher degree of stretching after being subjected to tensile loading. Overall, the results indicate that incorporating the hybrid B/C fillers could tremendously improve the mechanical properties of the films. The best ratio of B/C in the TPS was found to be 4:1, in which the tensile strength (8.52MPa), Young's modulus (42.0 MPa), elongation at break (116.4%) and tensile toughness of the film were increased by 92%, 146%, 156% and 338%, respectively. The significantly improved strength, modulus, flexibility and toughness of the film indicate the benefits of using the hybrid fillers, since these features are useful for the development of sustainable flexible packaging film.
研究了含有微晶纤维素（C）和纳米膨润土（B）作为混合填料的热塑性淀粉（TPS）混合生物复合薄膜，以替代包装应用中的传统不可降解塑料。对原生油棕空果串（OPEFB）进行化学处理和酸水解以获得C填料。对B填料进行超声处理，以更好地分散在TPS薄膜中，改善填料与基体之间的相互作用。通过扫描电子显微镜（SEM）、傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）和X射线衍射（XRD）对填料的形态和结构进行了表征。采用流延法制备了不同比例B和C填料的TPS混合生物复合薄膜。通过拉伸试验数据确定了B/C的最佳比例。FTIR分析证明了TPS与混合填料之间的分子相互作用，这是由于它们结构中存在极性基团。XRD分析证实，由于TPS与混合填料之间形成了良好的相互作用，TPS链插入到B片层间。SEM图像表明，TPS混合生物复合薄膜的断裂表面在拉伸加载后由于拉伸程度较高而发生了更多的塑性变形。总体而言，结果表明，加入混合B/C填料可以极大地改善薄膜的机械性能。发现TPS中B/C的最佳比例为4:1，此时薄膜的拉伸强度（8.52MPa）、杨氏模量（42.0MPa）、断裂伸长率（116.4%）和拉伸韧性分别提高了92%、146%、156%和338%。薄膜强度、模量、柔韧性和韧性的显著提高表明了使用混合填料的好处，因为这些特性对于开发可持续的柔性包装薄膜很有用。
