Author:
Halim Anis Adila Ab,Wahab Mohamad Kahar Ab
Abstract
Abstract
This study aims to investigates the changes in structural, thermal stability and water absorption properties of thermoplastic starch (TPS) before and after modification with citric acid and ascorbic acid. The first stage of study involved the preparation of TPS from native potato starch. Starch will be converted into thermoplastic like in the presence of glycerol as plasticizer. For the second stage, LDPE was blended with TPS to produce LDPE/TPS blend with and without modification. Then, the influence of calcium carbonate as particulate filler on the properties of LDPE/TPS blends was also investigated. Structural findings based on the FTIR analysis showed the formation of new ester bond on the TPS backbone after the modification, which correspond to the formation of crosslinking network in TPS phase. Water absorption test was used to determine the effectiveness of TPS modification in term of physical interaction between the phases.