Properties enhancement of cassava starch based bioplastics with addition of graphene oxide

The properties of cassava starch based bioplastic have been successfully enhanced by additioning of graphene oxide (GO) filler. The composite was synthesized via starch intercalation method using glycerol plasticizer with variation of 5 – 15 % v/v GO filler and mixing time of 30 and 60 minutes. The effects of GO content and the mixing time to the mechanical, water uptake and biodegradation were studied. The synthesis of GO and its integration in the bioplastic composite were also elucidated. The increasing of the GO content and mixing time improved the mechanical properties of composite mainly due to of good homogeneity among the constituents in the composite as indicated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transfom Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The bioplastic produced using 15% of GO and 60 minutes mixing time had the highest mechanical properties with tensile strenght of 3,92 Mpa, elongation of 13,22% and modulus young of 29,66 MPa. The water uptake and biodegradation increased as the increase of GO content and decreased as the increase of the mixing time. Graphene oxide is the promissing filler for further development of cassava starch based bioplastics.