Effect of cellulose fiber from sago waste on properties of starch-based films

An increasing interest in developing biodegradable film using natural biopolymers such as polysaccharides is due to concerns on environmental problems caused by non-biodegradable petroleum-based materials. Though the film exhibits low mechanical properties, it can be improved by adding reinforcing agent, for instance, cellulose fiber. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of adding cellulose fibers extracted from sago waste on the mechanical and thermal properties of sago starch-based films. Cellulose fibers extracted from sago waste showed reuction in size with cleaner surface as shown in FESEM micrographs. Thermal stability also improved indicated that the hemicelluloses and lignin were eliminated. Films were prepared by solution casting with 4 % sago starch and 3 % cellulose (from starch). These films were characterized using several techniques ie. tensile, x-ray diffractometry, TGA analysis, FESEM analysis and hazemeter. The films produced were highly transparent while film reinforced with cellulose fiber was more crystalline. The addition of fibers increased the tensile strength from 38.66 MPa to 40.70 MPa and Young's Modulus from 1710 MPa to 1713 MPa. The elongation at break also increased from 3.85 % to 4.62 %. On the other hand, the incorporation of cellulose fibers increased the thermal stability of the film. FE-SEM micrographs of the films showed homogenous distribution of the cellulose fibers. The inclusion of cellulose fiber has successfully increased the properties of the sago starch-based film. (paper)