Synthesis of PVA/starch bioplastic crosslinked with glutaraldehyde and reinforced by cellulose palmitate

Abstract

Five variations of starch-based bioplastics have been prepared to see the improvement of starch/PVA-based bioplastic characteristics. They are pure PVA, PVA/starch composite, PVA/starch crosslinked with glutaraldehyde, crosslinked PVA/starch and cellulose added, and crosslinked PVA/starch and cellulose palmitate added. Among the five variations, the PVA bioplastic film showed the closest transparency value to conventional plastics but also has the highest degree of swelling and solubility, and the crosslinked PVA/starch showed the least transparency value. The crosslinked PVA/starch with cellulose palmitate as a filler had the lowest DS and solubility. Tensile strength test results proved that the crosslinked PVA/starch and reinforced by cellulose palmitate graft polymer had the highest tensile strength and confirmed as the best result among five bioplastic modifications.