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Corn Cob Filled Chitosan Biocomposite Films

Article in Advanced Materials Research · August 2013

DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.747.649

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Advanced Materials Research Vol. 747 (2013) pp 649-652
© (2013) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland
doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.747.649

Corn Cob Filled Chitosan Biocomposite Films

Chan Ming Yeng1,a, Salmah Husseinsyah2,b, Sam Sung Ting3,c
1,2
Division of Polymer Engineering, School of Materials Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis,
02600 Jejawi, Perlis, Malaysia
3
School of Bioprocess Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Kompleks Pusat Pengajian Jejawi 3,
02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia
a
chanmingyeng@hotmail.my, birsalmah@unimap.edu.my, cstsam@unimap.edu.my

Keywords: Chitosan, corn cob, biocomposite, films.

Abstract. Recently, there has been renews interest in chitosan as materials in producing of
biocomposite films. The chitosan (CS)/corn cob (CC) biocomposite films were prepared by solvent
casting method. The effect of CC content on tensile properties of CS/CC biocomposite films was
studied. The tensile strength and elongation at break of CS/CC biocomposite films decreased as
increasing of CC content. However, the increasing of CC content was increased the tensile modulus
of CS/CC biocomposite films. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was indicated that the
deceasing of tensile properties was due to the poor interfacial adhesion between CC filler and CS
matrix.

Introduction
Biocomposite films were made from biodegradable polymer (as the matrix material) and natural
fiber or filler (e.g., hemp, wood, kenaf, coir, sisal, grasses). The utilization of biocomposite films
was to reduce plastic wastes as well as better control the emission of CO2 in environment. Those
biocomposite films have potential to substitute some of synthetic film such as polypropylene (PP),
and polyethylene (PE) film, because it can provide equivalent strength as compared to synthetic
film. However, the biocomposite films are not totally replacing the synthetic packaging film, but in
some conventional packaging application [1, 2].
Chitosan polymer was one of the biopolymers which made from renewable resource. Chitosan
was second abundant natural polysaccharide after cellulose [3]. Among of biopolymers, chitosan
has been considered as one of the most promising materials for the future because of its excellent
biocompatibility, biodegradability, anti-microbial activity, non-toxicity and economic advantages
[4]. It was derivative from chitin and was also a by-product of seafood processing like crab shell,
lobster shell, and prawn shell waste [1, 5]. Generally, chitosan was used in producing plastic film
due to it have unique structure, multidimensional properties, and wide raging applications in
biomedical and other industrial area [6]. However, chitosan in aqueous solutions of some organic
and inorganic acids cause it become polycation chitosan. In detail, chitosan readily soluble in dilute
acidic solution below pH 6.0 can therefore be considered as strong base [7]. The properties of
chitosan was highly depend on the cationic character and pH sensitive solubility of chitosan and
allow chitosan to be formed into various shapes such as beads, films, hydrogel, or particles [6]. In
the form of hydrogel, chitosan was used in wide range of application such as food packaging,
wastewater treatment and drug delivery system [8]. Fig. 1 illustrates the schematic reaction between
chitosan and acetic acid. Nowadays, numerous investigations have been researched on the studies of
chitosan as well as chitosan blend with natural polymer [9-10] or synthetic polymer [11-12], and
modified chitosan [4, 13-14]. However, there are rare to found literature study on natural filler filled
chitosan biocomposite films.

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650 Multi-Functional Materials and Structures IV

Fig. 1: Schematic reaction between chitosan and acetic acid.

Corn (Zea mays) was widely cultivated around the world which is greater weight of corn
produced each year as compared to other grain. After harvesting of corn, the residues like leaves,
cob, stalk and husk were left as part of corn stover in the field. Corn cob (CC) was a biomass which
has potential to be transformed into valuable bioproducts for industrial, such as animal feed,
charcoal, and fruit fly and mosquito abatement programs. Besides, utilization of corn cob as natural
filler for plastic industry for producing biocomposites might give an economic advantage.
The present work was focus on the effect of corn cob (CC) content on tensile properties of
CS/CC biocomposite films.

Methodology
Materials. Chitosan (CS) was supplied by Hunza Nutriceuticals Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia with average
size of 80 µm and degree of deacetylation (DD) of 90%. Corn cob (CC) was obtained from market,
Perlis. The CC was crushed and grinded into powder form with particle size of 38 µm. Then the CC
powder was dried at 80oC for 24 hours. The particle size of CC was analyzed by using Malvern
Particle Size Analyzer Instrument.
Preparation of Biocomposites Film. CS/CC biocomposite films was prepared through solvent
casting method. CS solution was produced by adding CS powder into acetic solution and stirred.
After the CS dissolved completely in acetic solution, CC was added and stirred until homogenous.
Then, CS/CC biocomposites solution was poured into mould and dried at room temperature in 48
hours to produce CS/CC biocomposite films. Table 1 shows the formulation of CS/CC
biocomposite films.

Table 1: Formulation of CS/CC biocomposite films.

Materials CS/CC biocomposite films
CS (wt %) 100, 90, 80, 70, 60
CC (wt %) 0, 10, 20, 30, 40

Tensile Testing. Tensile test was performed by using Instron Universal Tensile Machine, Model
5569 according to ASTM D 882. The tensile properties (tensile strength, tensile modulus and
elongation at break) of film can be obtained from tensile tests. Across head speed of testing was 15
mm/min and the tests were conducted at 25±3oC. The specimens with a size of 100 mm x 15 mm
were cut from each of film. At least five specimens are tested for each sample and the average
values recorded.
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to
analyze the fracture surface, filler dispersion, interfacial interaction between filler and matrix of
material. The microstructures of samples were analyzed by SEM, JEOL, at a voltage of 5kV. The
samples were coated with a thin layer of palladium for conductive purpose.
 Advanced Materials Research Vol. 747 651

Results and Discussion

Tensile properties. The effect of CC content on tensile strength of CS/CC biocomposite films is
shown in Fig. 2(a). The tensile strength of CS/CC biocomposite films was reduced as increasing of
CC content. This behavior might be attributed by the poor efficient of stress transfer of irregular
shape of CC and poor adhesion between CS matrix and CC filler. In general, filler with low aspect
ratio and poor adhesion with matrix will lead weak stress transfer, resulting in the reducing of
tensile strength of CS/CC biocomposite films. Fig. 2(b) exhibits the tensile modulus of CS/CC
biocomposite films. It can be seen that the tensile modulus increased by increasing of CC content.
The incorporation of CC decreased the plasticity of CS chain which resulting in higher stiffness of
biocomposite films. The increasing of CC content was reduced the elongation at break of CS/CC
biocomposite films as shown in Fig. 2(c). This is due to the presence of CC reduced the chain
mobility of CS polymer and increased the rigidity of CS/CC biocomposite films.

Fig. 2: Effect of CC content on (a) tensile strength; (b) tensile modulus; and (c) elongation at
break of CS/CC biocomposite films.

Morphology analysis. The SEM micrograph of neat CS film was shown in Fig. 3(a). The
fracture surface of neat CS film exhibited homogenous surface and matrix tearing. Fig. 3(b) and
3(c) showed the SEM micrograph of CS/CC biocomposite film at 20 wt% and 40 wt% of CC
content respectively. Both the CS/CC biocomposite films show the rough surface of morphology,
detachment of CC and CC pulled out. This indicates that poor interfacial interaction between CS
and CC. At higher CC content tend to form agglomeration of biocomposite films as seen in Fig.
3(c). This due to the tensile strength of biocomposite films decreased with higher content of CC.

Fig. 3: SEM micrograph on fracture surface of CS/CC biocomposites film: (a) neat CS; (b) with 20
wt%; and (c) with 40 wt% CC content.

Conclusion. As a result, the tensile strength and elongation at break of CS/CC biocomposite films
were reduced with CC content. However, tensile modulus of CS/CC biocomposite films increased
as increasing the CC content. SEM micrograph confirmed the weak interfacial bonding exist
between CS and CC which contributed to the poor tensile strength.
 652 Multi-Functional Materials and Structures IV

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