CHARACTERIZATION OF PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF BIODEGRADABLE FOAM FROM MAIZENA FLOUR AND PAPER WASTE FOR SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING MATERIAL

Abstract

Biodegradable Foam (Biofoam) production is an effort to reduce plastic waste in Indonesia. This product is made to replace Styrofoam, whose raw material is carcinogenic in the form of styrene which cannot be dissolved by the digestive system and is difficult to excrete through urine or feces which can trigger the growth of cancer in the long term and is harmful to the environment. Biofoam in this study is made from cornstarch with the addition of cellulose taken from paper waste. Based on the research that has been done, cornstarch-based biofoam with the addition of cellulose from paper waste as a biofiller can affect the physical and mechanical characteristics of the biofoam produced. The biofoam with a starch:cellulose ratio of 13:10 grams resulted in the best value of water adsorption in the amount 47.26%, also give the best result on tensile strength value and biodegradability value in the amount of 4.548 MPa and 11.943%. The addition of cellulose to the biofoam mixture in an appropriate amount will reduce the water absorption value of the biofoam. Because cellulose can cover the cavities generated by the starch expansion process in the biofoam. Therefore, the addition of cellulose also affects the mechanical properties of biofoam, namely tensile strength. Where the low filler composition in the biofoam will increase the tensile strength, but when the filler composition has passed an optimum point, the filler particles will experience agglomeration thereby reducing the tensile strength of the biofoam product. The variation in operating conditions in the manufacture of starch-based biofoam with the addition of a biofiller in the form of cellulose from paper waste did not significantly affect it. The variation in operating conditions only affects the visual appearance of the biofoam produced. Biofoam samples with the best visual appearance were produced at an operating temperature of 160 ? with an operating time of 30 minutes. Where high temperatures can affect th