Physical and chemical properties of cassava starch biopolymer reinforced with coconut fiber and/or metakaolin

The increasing use of plastic materials from petrochemicals have environmental consequences because the vast majority of this plastic waste are not biodegradable. Moreover, the incineration of this waste causes pollution. This is because they release significant amounts of carbon dioxide and other toxic gases that are harmful to the environment and human health. It is therefore necessary to develop biodegradable biopolymers as an alternative to synthetic polymers. This present study aims at the development and the physico-chemical characterization of plastic films based on cassava starch reinforced with metakaolin and/or coconut fiber. The different tests (chemical analysis, thermal test, relative humidity absorption test, degradation test, scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy) were used to study the behavior of reinforced cassava starch biopolymers. BPKT and BPKTF samples are relatively rich in Fe2O3 and SO3 with respective rates of (2.048 % and 6.669 %) and (2.111 % and 3.23 %). The thermal test showed that all cassava starch biopolymers softened at 90 degrees C and were strongly dehydrated followed by color change at 120 degrees C. However, the best results were obtained with cassava starch biopolymers reinforced with metakaolin with coconut fiber due to the presence of reinforcements. In conclusion, tests such as mechanical resistance, behavior in an acid medium and in an alkaline medium will be performed.