Characterization and Properties of Biodegradable Thermoplastic Cassava Starch/Chitosan Films

Abstract

The chitosan starch film was produce through solution casting with different carboxylic acid for acid treatment. Several testing were conducted such as tensile test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), moisture absorption and soil burial. The optimum ratio for the chitosan/starch was 70:30. This ratio shows the highest tensile strength which is 11.84 MPa for the control film. The acid used for chemical modifications were citric acid and ascorbic acid. This acid modificationsexhibited higher tensile strength, Young's modulus, and less weight loss in soil burial and lower percentage of moisture absorption. SEM shows the better solubility of the starch in film with acid treatment. Moisture absorption and weight loss in the soil burial test was lower in the film with acid treatment than thefilm without acid treatment.