title: Cassava/sugar palm fiber reinforced cassava starch hybrid composites: Physical, thermal and structural properties.
abstract: A hybrid composite was prepared from cassava bagasse (CB) and sugar palm fiber (SPF) using casting technique with cassava starch (CS) as matrix and fructose as a plasticizer. Different loadings of SPF (2, 4, 6 and 8% w/w of dry starch) were added to the CS/CB composite film containing 6% CB. The addition of SPF significantly influenced the physical properties. It increased the thickness while decreasing the density, water content, water solubility and water absorption. However, no significant effect was noticed on the thermal properties of the hybrid composite film. The incorporation of SPF increased the relative crystallinity up to 47%, compared to 32% of the CS film. SEM micrographs indicated that the filler was incorporated in the matrix. The film with a higher concentration of SPF (CS-CB/SPF8) showed a more heterogeneous surface. It could be concluded that the incorporation of SPF led to changes in cassava starch film properties, potentially affecting the film performances.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Chemical and Material Engineering, Sabha University, Libya.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Edhirej
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Laboratory of Biocomposites Technology, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: sapuan@upm.edu.my.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sapuan
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biocomposites Technology, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jawaid
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nur Ismarrubie
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Zahari
mesh_terms: D028023:Arecaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D018857:Food Packaging; D002365:Manihot / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility; D013213:Starch / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D013213:Starch
keywords: Cassava bagasse; Cassava film; Hybrid composite; Physical properties; Sugar palm fiber; Thermal properties