Effect of seaweed on physical properties of thermoplastic sugar palm starch/agar composites
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15282/jmes.10.3.2016.1.0207Keywords:
Seaweed; thermoplastic starch; agar; water absorption.Abstract
The aim of this paper is to investigate the physical properties of thermoplastic sugar palm starch/agar (TPSA) blend when incorporated with seaweed. The ratio of starch, agar, and glycerol for TPSA was maintained at 70:30:30. Seaweed with various contents (10, 20, 30, and 40 wt.%) were mixed with TPSA matrix via melt mixing before compression were molded into 3 mm plate at 140oC for 10 minutes. The prepared laminates were characterized for moisture absorption, water absorption, thickness swelling, water solubility, and density. The results showed that increasing seaweed loading from 0 to 40 wt% has led to a drop in moisture content from 6.50 to 4.96% and 9% reduction of the density. TPSA matrix showed 52.5% water uptake and 32.3% swelling whereas TPSA/seaweed composites (40 wt% loading) showed 97% water uptake and 74.8% swelling respectively. Higher water solubility was also shown by TPSA/seaweed composites (57 wt%) compared to that of the TPSA matrix (26 wt%). After 16 days of storage, the equilibrium moisture content for TPSA and TPSA/seaweed (40 wt% loading) were 23.2 and 25.2% respectively. In conclusion, TPSA/seaweed composites show good environmental friendly characteristics as a renewable material. In future, the properties of this material can be further improved by hybridization with more hydrophobic fillers for better resistance against water.
References
Lomelí Ramírez MG, Satyanarayana KG, Iwakiri S, de Muniz GB, Tanobe V, Flores-Sahagun TS. Study of the properties of biocomposites. Part I. Cassava starch-green coir fibers from Brazil. Carbohydrate Polymers. 2011;86:1712–22.
Jamiluddin J, Siregar JP, Sulaiman A, Jalal KAA, Tezara C. Study on properties of tapioca resin polymer. International Journal of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering. 2016;13:3178–89.
Sahari J, Sapuan SM, Zainudin ES, Maleque MA. Thermo-mechanical behaviors of thermoplastic starch derived from sugar palm tree (Arenga pinnata). Carbohydrate Polymers. 2013;92:1711–6.
Lomelí-Ramírez MG, Kestur SG, Manríquez-González R, Iwakiri S, de Muniz GB, Flores-Sahagun TS. Bio-composites of cassava starch-green coconut fiber: part II-Structure and properties. Carbohydrate Polymers. 2014;102:576–83.
Sahari J, Sapuan SM, Zainudin ES, Maleque MA. Mechanical and thermal properties of environmentally friendly composites derived from sugar palm tree. Materials & Design. 2013;49:285–9.
Wu Y, Geng F, Chang PR, Yu J, Ma X. Effect of agar on the microstructure and performance of potato starch film. Carbohydrate Polymers. 2009;76:299–304.
Jumaidin R, Sapuan SM, Jawaid M, Ishak MR, Sahari J. Characteristics of Thermoplastic Sugar Palm Starch/Agar Blend: Thermal, Tensile, and Physical Properties. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 2016;89:575– 81.
Roslan S a H, Hassan MZ, Rasid Z a., Zaki S a., Daud Y, Aziz S, et al. Mechanical properties of bamboo reinforced epoxy sandwich structure composites. International Journal of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering. 2015;12:2882–92.
Fairuz AM, Sapuan SM, Zainudin ES, Jaafar CNA. Effect of filler loading on mechanical properties of pultruded kenaf fibre reinforced vinyl ester composites. Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences. 2016;10:1931–42.
Mohammed AA, Bachtiar D, Siregar JP, Rejab MRM. Effect of sodium hydroxide on the tensile properties of sugar palm fibre reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane composites. Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences. 2016;10:1765–77.
Atuanya CU, Aigbodion VS, Obiorah SO, Kchaou M, Elleuch R. Empirical models for estimating the mechanical and morphological properties of recycled low density polyethylene/snail shell bio-composites. Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Basic and Applied Sciences. 2015.
Fombuena V, Bernardi L, Fenollar O, Boronat T, Balart R. Characterization of green composites from biobased epoxy matrices and bio-fillers derived from seashell wastes. Materials & Design. 2014;57:168–74.
Koutsomitopoulou a. F, Bénézet JC, Bergeret a., Papanicolaou GC. Preparation and characterization of olive pit powder as a filler to PLA-matrix bio- composites. Powder Technology. 2014;255:10–6.
Nabinejad O, Sujan D, Rahman ME, Davies IJ. Effect of oil palm shell powder on the mechanical performance and thermal stability of polyester composites. Materials & Design. 2015;65:823–30.
Sarki J, Hassan SB, Aigbodion VS, Oghenevweta JE. Potential of using coconut shell particle fillers in eco-composite materials. Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 2011;509:2381–5.
Bachtiar D, Sapuan SM, Hamdan MM. Flexural properties of alkaline treated sugar palm fibre reinforced epoxy composites. International Journal of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering. 2010;1:79–90.
Albano C, Karam a., Domínguez N, Sánchez Y, González J, Aguirre O, et al. Thermal, mechanical, morphological, thermogravimetric, rheological and toxicological behavior of HDPE/seaweed residues composites. Composite Structures. 2005;71:282–8.
Hassan MM, Mueller M, Wagners MH. Exploratory study on seaweed as novel filler in polypropylene composite. Journal of Applied Polymer Science. 2008;109:1242–7.
Bulota M, Budtova T. PLA/algae composites: morphology and mechanical properties. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing. 2015;73:109–15.
Kasim AN, Selamat MZ, Daud MAM, Yaakob MY, Putra A, Sivakumar D, et al. Mechanical properties of polypropylene composites reinforced with alkaline treated pineapple leaf fibre from Josapine cultivar. International Journal of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering. 2016;1:3157–67.
Kasim AN, Selamat MZ, Aznan N, Sahadan SN, Daud MAM, Jumaidin R, et al. Effect of Pineapple Leaf Fiber Loading on the Mechanical Properties of Pineapple Leaf-Fiber Polypropylene Composite. Jurnal Teknologi. 2015;77:117–23.
Ibrahim MS, Sapuan SM, Faieza a a. Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Composites From Unsaturated Polyester Filled With Oil Palm Ash. Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences. 2012;2:2231–8380.
Tan IS, Lee KT. Enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of seaweed solid wastes for bioethanol production: An optimization study. Energy. 2014;78:53-62.
Sahari J, Sapuan SM, Zainudin ES, Maleque MA. A New Approach to Use Arenga pinnata as Sustainable Biopolymer : Effects of Plasticizers on Physical Properties. Procedia Chemistry. 2012;4:254–9.
Kanmani P, Rhim J-W. Antimicrobial and physical-mechanical properties of agar-based films incorporated with grapefruit seed extract. Carbohydrate Polymers. 2014;102:708–16.
Maran JP, Sivakumar V, Sridhar R, Thirugnanasambandham K. Development of model for barrier and optical properties of tapioca starch based edible films. Carbohydrate Polymers. 2013;92:1335–47.
Flores AC, Punzalan ER, Ambangan NG. Effects of Kappa-Carrageenan on the Physico-Chemical Properties of Thermoplastic Starch. Kimika. 2015;26:11–7.
Ibrahim H, Farag M, Megahed H, Mehanny S. Characteristics of starch-based biodegradable composites reinforced with date palm and flax fibers. Carbohydrate Polymers. 2014;101:11–9.
Liu J, Zhan X, Wan J, Wang Y, Wang C. Review for carrageenan-based pharmaceutical biomaterials: favourable physical features versus adverse biological effects. Carbohydrate Polymers. 2015;121:27–36.
Jawaid M, Abdul Khalil HPS, Noorunnisa Khanam P, Abu Bakar a. Hybrid Composites Made from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches/Jute Fibres: Water Absorption, Thickness Swelling and Density Behaviours. Journal of Polymers and the Environment. 2011;19:106–9.
Yahaya R, Sapuan SM, Jawaid M, Leman Z, Zainudin ES. Effect of fibre orientations on the mechanical properties of kenaf–aramid hybrid composites for spall-liner application. Defence Technology. 2015;12:52–8.
