The Influence of Ultrasonic Wave Treatment on the Mechanical Properties of Nanoclay-reinforced Starch Biocomposite

Abstract

The cassava as a starch source has a great potential as biocomposite matrix in a packaging material technology. The addition of nanoclay as biocomposite reinforcement into matrix will increase the biocomposite properties but it is difficult to homogenize a nanoclay particle into the biocomposite matrix. Accordingly, the research aimed at showing the effect of ultrasonic wave treatment on the strength of starch-based biocomposite with nanoclay as reinforcement. The research was conducted by applying a casting technique to synthesize the biocomposite. The ultrasonic wave treatment was conducted during biocomposite synthetic process with 5% (wt/wt) nanoclay with various homogenizing time and subsequently pour it into the mold. Biocomposite strength was determined by a tensile tester. The fracture morphology was observed using SEM and the functional group was analyzed using FTIR methods. The results show that the ultrasonic wave treatment affects the mechanical properties of nanoclay reinforced starch biocomposite. This result shows that the duration time of the ultrasonic wave treatment 15, 30, 45, and 60 min. increase strength and elongation of 11.79 MPa, 14.77 MPa, 20.52 MPa, 28.01 MPa, and 12.08%, 16.08%, 26.12%, 27.90%, respectively. It shows that the duration time of the ultrasonic wave treatment ≥ 45 minutes resulted in better mechanical properties of biocomposite.