Tapioca starch films reinforced with microcrystalline cellulose for potential food packaging application

Abstract This work is directed towards developing biodegradable films from biopolymer that is sustainable and environmentally friendly particularly tapioca starch (TPS) films. However, the usage of TPS films for food packaging application has been limited due to the poor mechanical, barrier and thermal properties. Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) at different concentrations (0 to 10 wt.%) was incorporated as the filler into the films to form TPS/MCC composite films via solvent casting method in order to improve the limited properties of the films. The TPS/MCC films were characterized in terms of physical, mechanical, barrier, and thermal properties. It was found that 3 wt.% MCC was the ideal concentration of filler that resulted to the highest performance of the films in terms of mechanical and barrier properties. Thermal properties of the films were also improved with the addition of MCC into the films. In conclusion, TPS/MCC films produced in this study exhibit improved properties and have the potential to be used for food packaging application.

摘要 本研究旨在以可持续环保的生物聚合物为原料开发可降解薄膜，其中尤以木薯淀粉薄膜（TPS）为研究重点。然而，由于力学、阻隔及热学性能欠佳，TPS薄膜在食品包装领域的应用受到限制。为改善TPS薄膜的性能短板，本研究采用溶剂浇铸法，将浓度范围为0至10 wt.%的微晶纤维素（MCC）作为填料掺入薄膜中，制备得到TPS/MCC复合薄膜。本研究从物理、力学、阻隔及热学性能维度对所制备的TPS/MCC复合薄膜进行了表征分析。结果表明，当微晶纤维素填料浓度为3 wt.%时，复合薄膜的力学与阻隔性能达到最优水平；同时，添加微晶纤维素亦可有效提升薄膜的热学性能。综上，本研究所制备的TPS/MCC复合薄膜性能得到显著改善，具备应用于食品包装领域的潜力。