Mechanical Characteristics of Stearic Acid Addition in Polylactic Acid (PLA) and Cassava Starch Bioplastic Blends

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.sidebar##

Published Oct 31, 2025
https://doi.org/10.55043/jfpc.v4i2.264
Download
PDF
Statistic

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Vol. 4 No. 2 (2025): Journal of Fibers and Polymer Composites

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.main##

Muhammad Yusuf
University of Jember
Ghaibi Alimul Fatah
University of Jember
Robertoes Koekoeh Koentjoro Wibowo
University of Jember
Revvan Rifada Pradiza
Politeknik Internasional Tamansiswa Mojokerto
Rushdan Ahmad Ilyas
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Mochamad Asrofi
University of Jember

Abstract

This study aims to determine the effect of adding stearic acid (SA) to a bioplastic mixture of cassava starch (CS) and polylactic acid (PLA). The bioplastic was produced using a solvent casting method. The addition of SA can affect the mechanical properties of the film. The maximum tensile strength of the film increased from 5.12 MPa (without SA) to 7.61 MPa (5% SA). The same trend also applies to the Young's modulus and elongation at break, which increased from 25.45 MPa and 20.17% to 35.02 MPa and 21.64% after the addition of 5% SA. This improvement in mechanical properties is supported by the compatibility of PLA and CS due to the optimal presence of SA. These findings prove that SA is an effective compatibilizer in improving the mechanical properties of PLA and CS-based bioplastics. The resulting film products have the potential to be used as environmentally friendly packaging materials that are competitive with synthetic materials such as Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA).

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.details##

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Author Biographies

Muhammad Yusuf, University of Jember

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

Ghaibi Alimul Fatah, University of Jember

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

Robertoes Koekoeh Koentjoro Wibowo, University of Jember

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

Revvan Rifada Pradiza, Politeknik Internasional Tamansiswa Mojokerto

Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology

Rushdan Ahmad Ilyas, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Centre for Advanced Composite Materials

Mochamad Asrofi, University of Jember

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

How to Cite
Yusuf, M., Fatah, G. A., Wibowo, R. K. K., Pradiza, R. R., Ilyas, R. A., & Asrofi, M. (2025). Mechanical Characteristics of Stearic Acid Addition in Polylactic Acid (PLA) and Cassava Starch Bioplastic Blends. Journal of Fibers and Polymer Composites, 4(2), 121–130. https://doi.org/10.55043/jfpc.v4i2.264

References

  1. Ncube LK, Ude AU, Ogunmuyiwa EN, Zulkifli R, Beas IN. Environmental impact of food packaging materials: A review of contemporary development from conventional plastics to polylactic acid based materials. Materials 2020;13:4994. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13214994.
  2. Ali SS, Elsamahy T, Koutra E, Kornaros M, El-Sheekh M, Abdelkarim EA, et al. Degradation of conventional plastic wastes in the environment: A review on current status of knowledge and future perspectives of disposal. Science of the Total Environment 2021;771:144719. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144719.
  3. Nazrun T, Hassan MK, Hossain MD, Ahmed B, Hasnat MR, Saha S. Application of biopolymers as sustainable cladding materials: A Review. Sustainability 2024;16:27. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010027.
  4. Taib NAAB, Rahman MR, Huda D, Kuok KK, Hamdan S, Bakri MKB, et al. A review on poly lactic acid (PLA) as a biodegradable polymer. Polymer Bulletin 2023;80:1179–213. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-022-04160-y.
  5. Fortelny I, Ujcic A, Fambri L, Slouf M. Phase structure, compatibility, and toughness of PLA/PCL blends: A review. Frontiers in Materials 2019;6:206. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmats.2019.00206.
  6. do Val Siqueira L, Arias CILF, Maniglia BC, Tadini CC. Starch-based biodegradable plastics: Methods of production, challenges and future perspectives. Current Opinion in Food Science 2021;38:122–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cofs.2020.10.020.
  7. Silva OA, Pellá MG, Caetano J, Simões MR, Bittencourt PR, Dragunski DC. Synthesis and characterization of a low solubility edible film based on native cassava starch. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 2019;128:290–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.01.132.
  8. Pradiza RR, Basyar MTAK, Asrofi M, Abduh M, Trifiananto M, Junus S, et al. Study of tensile strength, microstructure and density-porosity properties of cassava starch-PLA bioplastic manufactured through solution casting. IOP Conf Ser Earth Environ Sci. 2025;1454:012014. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1454/1/012014.
  9. Yoksan R, Boontanimitr A, Klompong N, Phothongsurakun T. Poly (lactic acid)/thermoplastic cassava starch blends filled with duckweed biomass. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 2022;203:369–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.01.159.
  10. Yusoff NH, Pal K, Narayanan T, De Souza FG. Recent trends on bioplastics synthesis and characterizations: Polylactic acid (PLA) incorporated with tapioca starch for packaging applications. Journal of Molecular Structure 2021;1232:129954. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.129954.
  11. Kurup G, Fadzillah MFFBM, Royan NRR, Radzuan NAM, Sulong AB. Impact of processing parameters on the compatibility and performance of PLA/tapioca starch biocomposites for short-term food packaging applications. Materials Today Communications 2025;111651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2025.111651.
  12. Hemvichian K, Suwanmala P, Kangsumrith W, Sudcha P, Inchoto K, Pongprayoon T, et al. Enhancing compatibility between poly (lactic acid) and thermoplastic starch using admicellar polymerization. Journal of Applied Polymer Science 2016;133. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.43755.
  13. Meng L, Yu L, Khalid S, Liu H, Zhang S, Duan Q, Chen L. Preparation, microstructure and performance of poly (lactic acid)-poly (butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate)-starch hybrid composites. Composites Part B: Engineering 2019;177:107384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2019.107384.
  14. Salmi MS, Zoukrami F, Haddaoui N. Structure-properties relation in thermoplastic polymer/silica nanocomposites in presence of stearic acid as modifier agent. International Journal of Polymer Analysis and Characterization 2021;26:604–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/1023666X.2021.1947661.
  15. Mohammedi N, Zoukrami F, Haddaoui N. Preparation of polypropylene/bentonite composites of enhanced thermal and mechanical properties using L-leucine and stearic acid as coupling agents. Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research 2021;11:7207–16. https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.4148.
  16. Santiagoo R, Hong TW, Azizan NZN, Andrew AM, Wahab F, Seman NAA, Othman NS. The effect of stearic acid and different loading treated and untreated EFB fiber on the tensile, structural and chemical properties of polypropylene/recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber/empty fruit bunch composites. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 2021;765:012037. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/765/1/012037.
  17. Khanoonkon N, Yoksan R, Ogale AA. Morphological characteristics of acid-grafted polyethylene/thermoplastic. European Polymer Journal 2016;76:266–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2016.02.001.
  18. Chauhan S, Raghu N, Raj A. Effect of maleic anhydride grafted polylactic acid concentration on mechanical and thermal properties of thermoplasticized starch filled polylactic acid blends. Polymers and Polymer Composites 2021;29:S400–10. https://doi.org/10.1177/09673911211004194.
  19. Leow VJ, Teh PL, Yeoh CK, Abdul Rahim NA, Wong WC, Voon CH, et al. The effect of coated calcium carbonate using stearic acid on the recovered carbon black masterbatch in low-density polyethylene composites. e-Polymers 2023;23:20230025. https://doi.org/10.1515/epoly-2023-0025.
  20. Mukaila T, Adeniyi A, Bello I, Sarker NC, Monono E, Hammed A. Optimizing film mechanical and water contact angle properties via PLA/starch/lecithin concentrations. Cleaner and Circular Bioeconomy. 2024;8:100095. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clcb.2024.100095.
  21. Ratsameetammajak N, Molloy R, Somsunan R. Preparation and property testing of polymer blends of poly(lactic acid) and poly(butylene succinate) plasticised with long-chain fatty acids. Plastics, Rubber and Composites 2018;47:139–46. https://doi.org/10.1080/14658011.2018.1443875.
  22. Hamdan MM, Siregar JP, Rejab MRM, Bachtiar D, Jamiluddin J, Tezara C. Effect of maleated anhydride on mechanical properties of rice husk filler reinforced PLA matrix polymer composite. Int J Precis Eng Manuf-Green Technol. 2019;6:113–124. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40684-019-00017-4.
  23. Martins AB, Santana RMC. Effect of carboxylic acids as compatibilizer agent on mechanical properties of thermoplastic starch and polypropylene blends. Carbohydrate Polymers 2016;135:79–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.08.074.
  24. da Silva SC, Simões BM, Yamashita F, de Carvalho FA. Compatibilizers for biodegradable starch and poly (lactic acid) materials produced by thermoplastic injection. Res Soc Dev. 2022;11:e476111436521. https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v11i14.36521.
  25. Khalid S, Yu L, Meng L, Liu H, Ali A, Chen L. Poly(lactic acid)/starch composites: Effect of microstructure and morphology of starch granules on performance. Journal of Applied Polymer Science 2017;134:45504. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.45504.
  26. Pradiza RR, Junus S, Asrofi M, Ilyas RA. Moisture characteristics of biocomposites from PVA/cassava starch reinforced by lemon peel fiber. Journal of Fibers and Polymer Composites 2025;4:1–10. https://doi.org/10.55043/jfpc.v4i1.218.
  27. Benabid FZ, Kharchi N, Zouai F, Mourad AHI, Benachour D. Impact of co-mixing technique and surface modification of ZnO nanoparticles using stearic acid on their dispersion into HDPE to produce HDPE/ZnO nanocomposites. Polymers and Polymer Composites 2019;27:389–99. https://doi.org/10.1177/0967391119847353.
  28. Chartarrayawadee W, Molloy R, Ratchawet A, Janmee N, Butsamran M, Panpai K. Fabrication of poly(lactic acid)/graphene oxide/stearic acid composites with improved tensile strength. Polymer Composites 2017;38:2272–82. https://doi.org/10.1002/pc.23809.
  29. Asrofi M, Fajar RM, Djumhariyanto D, Junus S, Ilyas RA, Asyraf MRM, Rajeshkumar L. Studies on tensile strength, fracture surface and biodegradation of biocomposite from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) filled by sugarcane bagasse fiber. Journal of Fibers and Polymer Composites 2023;2:46–55. https://doi.org/10.55043/jfpc.v2i1.75