NATIVE CASSAVA STARCH (NCS)/ POLYPROPYLENE BLENDS: EFFECTS OF SOIL BURIAL ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

Native starches have an outstanding potential as a biodegradability promoter in thermoplastics. This study deals with the preparations of native cassava starch blends by a melt blend injection process. Good interfacial adhesion is generated between polypropylene matrix and native cassava starch filler by modifying with Polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride as new covalent bonds are formed. The resultant blends were prepared for biodegradability and mechanical tests. Tests on tensile strength, elongation at break and Young’s modulus, of the samples were performed and the findings reported. These results are discussed in view of the improved adhesion at the polypropylene/native cassava starch phase boundaries.