Effects of chitosan as compatibilizer on the properties of polycaprolactone/tapioca starch composite films

Abstract This study investigates the effects of chitosan contents as a compatibilizer on the properties of polycaprolactone (PCL)/tapioca starch composite films. The mechanical and thermal, morphological and biodegradability properties of the composite films were analysed to determine the feasibility of chitosan in enhancing the properties of the composite films by improving the PCL/starch interaction. The incorporation of 2 parts per hundred (pph) chitosan slightly improved the tensile strength while the Young’ modulus, water vapor permeability and biodegradability of composite film increased with the increasing of the chitosan contents from 2 to 8 pph. The melting temperature and degree of crystallization of the composite films with 2 pph chitosan content showed that there was an interaction between PCL and starch via hydrogen bonding which was proven by Fourier transform infra-red spectra (FTIR) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs. The micrographs of the composite films reveal the formation of hollow spaces to indicate that there was interaction between PCL and starch with the addition of chitosan as a compatibilizer. Hence, chitosan has successfully acted as a compatibilizer at 2 pph as the properties of composite films improved at this composition.