Plasticizer Content Research Articles

Engineered polysaccharide alpha‐1,3‐glucan in highly filled thermoplastic polyurethane systems

AbstractThis study explores the use of α‐1,3‐glucan, which can be produced through an enzymatic polymerization process, as additive for thermoplastic polyurethane composite systems. Most importantly, highly filled thermoplastic polyurethane composites can be achieved with up to 80% by weight polysaccharide content. Analysis of mechanical properties demonstrates that strength and modulus can be significantly improved, while the plasticizer content allows for adjustments of compound flexibility. The addition of 60% α‐1,3‐glucan increased the flexural modulus of the thermoplastic polyurethane by 497% while adding 80% α‐1,3‐glucan increased the flexural modulus by 3193%. Citrate esters can be incorporated as plasticizer to improve processibility and flexibility of the compounds. An increase in impact strength of 55% was achieved when 10% of tributyl citrate was added to the 80% α‐1,3‐glucan composite. Based on the compatibility and property enhancements, the use of these engineered polysaccharides may provide additional options for producing sustainable composite materials with high renewable content and unique properties.

Synthesis and characterization of bioplastic films from potato peel starch; effect of glycerol as plasticizer

Potatoes, Corn, soy, yam, sugarcane, wheat, and vegetable oil are all examples of renewable resources used to make biobased polymers. As prices of crude oil rising and petroleum resources become scarce, researchers are working hard to find a suitable and verifiable substitute for petroleum-based polymers. For this study, bioplastic films were synthesized using starch from white potato peels and glycerol as the plasticizer. The consequence of plasticizer content on the tensile strength, percentage elongation, and water absorption properties was highlighted. Synthesized bioplastic was characterized by the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, which confirms the molecular structure of starch and the production of bioplastic. Tensile strength reveals an improvement in strength. The tensile strength increases from 0.3 ± 0.05 Mpa to 0.56 ± 0.05 Mpa as the plasticizer volume content increases from 1.5 ml to 2.5 ml. Percentage elongations increase gradually from 2.2 ± 0.05 % to 2.8 ± 0.05 % as plasticizer content increases to 3.5 ml volume content. The water absorption value of the synthesized bioplastic increased with time, due to the hygroscopic properties of prepared starch and glycerol. The synthesized bioplastic from potatoes peels makes a suitable renewable, low-cost, and easily modifiable material and a viable replacement for present conventional plastics.

Development and characterization of sustainable-active-edible-bio based films from orange and pomegranate peel waste for food packaging: Effects of particle size and acid/plasticizer concentrations

Sustainable packaging materials especially from food processing waste are of getting interest. The aim of the study was to develop edible bio based films from processing wastes of pomegranate and orange peels. For this purpose, pomegranate and orange peels were dried and processed into flour in different particle sizes. The effects of particle size, concentration of acid and plasticizer on physical and mechanical properties were investigated. Antimicrobial, antioxidant, morphological and thermal properties were further determined for the selected film formulations. Results showed that the particle size significantly affected mechanical properties of the films (p ≤ 0.05), with improvement of the mechanical properties for the reduced particle size. Pomegranate and orange peel based films showed very high antimicrobial activity against E. coli and S. aureus irrespective of particle sizes. The pomegranate and orange peel based films had homogeneous, smooth, and crack-free surfaces. Pomegranate and orange peel based films showed very similar thermal properties and major thermal degradation was observed between 160 and 300 °C for both type of films irrespective of particle sizes. Pomegranate and orange peels could be good potential as antioxidant and antimicrobial biopolymer sources for sustainable and active food coating/packaging.

Effects of tributyrin as plasticizer in poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) on processability, mechanical, and thermal properties

AbstractThe development of biodegradable polymers has been stimulated owing to the inappropriate litter disposing in order to replace conventional polymers with long‐time degradation. As their performance is a challenge to this replacement, the insertion of additives in biodegradable polymers such as poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) consists in an effective way of adjusting their properties. For this reason, it was analyzed the incorporation of tributyrin (TB) in the matrix of PHBV as a plasticizer, so that higher plastic deformation is achieved. Samples of neat PHBV and with plasticizer concentrations of 5, 10, and 15 wt% were prepared by double screw extruder followed by press molding under temperature. Plasticizer exudation test confirmed the presence of TB in the samples of PHBV. Mechanical test showed the highest value of tensile strength and elongation at break for PHBV/5TB, with 23.4 MPa and 2.84%, respectively. It was observed at differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis that the PHBV/5TB resulted in an increase of 3% on crystallinity, a decrease of 3% on melting temperature, and a decrease of 46% and 29% on glass transition temperature by E″ and tan δ curves, respectively, compared with neat PHBV. Thus, PHBV/5TB was determined as the most appropriate composition for enhancing processability and properties of PHBV.

Synthesis of trioctyl polyvinyl chloride ammonium, membrane extraction properties, and electrodriven mass transfer behavior of Chromium (VI)

Trioctyl polyvinyl chloride ammonium (PVCTQAS) with quaternary ammonium salt content (QAS) of 25 % was synthesized by a nucleophilic substitution reaction of between polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and trioctylamine (TOA) for the first time. The mass transfer behavior of HCrO4−, CdCl3−, CoCl42−, FeCl4−, and CuCl42− metal complex anions within the plasticized PVCTQAS membrane followed a first-order kinetic rate equation. Taking the Cr(Ⅵ)-PVCTQAS system as a representative, the influences of plasticizer content and membrane thickness on the mass transfer performance were investigated, and the electrodriven mass transfer behavior of Cr(VI) was studied. The results showed that the mass transfer of HCrO4− in PVCTQASD followed a jumping mechanism, with a QAS content threshold of 22 %. In the Cr(VI)-PVCTQAS electrodriven mass transfer system, the PVCTQASD exhibited uniform electrochemical properties, and the membrane thickness had little influence on the mass transfer rate. The response of HCrO4− mass transfer rate to voltage depended on the distribution density of QAS in the membrane. The mass transfer performance of PVCTQASD with QAS between 15 % and 20 % had a high dependence on the voltage, while the permeability coefficient of Cr(VI)-PVCTQAS system became stable when the voltage exceeded 10 V after surpassing the QAS content threshold. 50 μm QAS 25 % Cr(VI)-PVCTQAS system had a treatment efficiency of 710 mg·m−2·h−1 for HCrO4− at 10 V, while maintaining exceptional selectivity and stability.

Magnesium ion conducting biopolymer blend-based electrolyte for energy storage application: Electrochemical characteristics

A casting technique was employed to produce plasticized magnesium ion conducting biopolymer blend electrolytes. Chitosan (CS) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were used to deliver polymer blends, and 50 wt.% of magnesium nitrate (Mg(NO3)2) was incorporated as the source for Mg2+ ions supply. The CS:PVA:Mg(NO3)2 system was subjected to different concentrations of glycerol plasticizer to improve its ion conductivity. To assess their suitability as energy storage materials, the electrochemical characteristics of the fabricated films were examined employing broad methodologies. Distinguished improvement in dielectric constant was observed upon increasing plasticizer concentration. The appearance of relaxation peak in tanδ-M'' spectra and their asymmetric shape reveals the non-Debye relaxation process. The biopolymer blend electrolyte, with a plasticizer content of 55 wt.%, exhibited the highest DC conductivity, measuring 7.34 × 10−5 S.cm−1. In terms of potential stability, linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) analysis revealed a value of 2.34 V for this particular electrolyte. A non-Faradaic (capacitive) response to cyclic voltammetry (CV) is displayed, and there is no redox peak. The selected scan rate influenced the shape of the CV curves. When scan rates of 20 mV/s and 100 mV/s were employed, specific capacitance values of 5.41 and 16.46 F/g were determined. The stability of an electrochemical double-layer capacitor, which serves as an energy storage device, was evaluated by employing a charging-discharging technique and the electrode separator made of the most conducting sample. The results show promise for the potential application of the current plasticized magnesium ion-conducting biopolymer blend electrolyte in energy storage devices.

A novel approach to plasticizer content calculation in an acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber real-time aging study (NBR)

This study presents an analysis of plasticizers and other additives in elastomers using several techniques to obtain relevant information for aging investigations. Thermogravimetric quantification of polymeric matrix, polymeric matrix char, carbon black, inorganic substances, plasticizers and other additives is commonly used. However, the thermogravimetric weight loss attributed to plasticizers and other additives contains additional components whose contribution to the weight loss has not been considered. Unreported components include water and carbonyl sulfide, which develop over long-term elastomer aging, and should be separately accounted for. This study employed Karl-Fischer oven techniques for calculating water content and linked thermogravimetric analysis with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy to measure carbonyl sulfide. Chromatoprobe-GC/MS was used to determine the ratio between rubber-related substances and JP-8 fuel and its additives, which can diffuse into rubbers. In fuel bladders, this occurrence is frequently observed, and the ratio consistently decreases over time.

Investigation of quasistatic and dynamic mechanical properties of thermoplastic polyurethane magnetorheological elastomers

Thermoplastic magnetorheological elastomers (MRE) are soft magnetic materials with multi stimuli response. As the name suggests, thermoplastic MREs are formed by the suspension of magnetic particles in a thermoplastic elastomer matrix, whose rheological properties can be controlled by temperature. The composite itself can thus be controlled by temperature and magnetic field. In this article, we present the method and results of quasistatic and dynamic mechanical properties of thermoplastic polyurethane MREs (TPU-MREs) based on the observations made on the influence of hardener and plasticizer content from the composition point of view and the directional interdependence of strain and magnetic field on the magnetorheological (MR) effect. Quasistatic tensile and torsion tests followed by dynamic oscillation tests conducted within the linear elastic regime at three different temperatures with and without externally applied magnetic field are performed on the TPU-MRE samples. The tests are conducted with an inhouse developed test setup adapted to a commercial rheometer. The obtained results demonstrate a strong correlation to the change in moduli of the TPU-MRE with respect to change in composition and temperature. From the results obtained, one can conclude that samples with lower hardener content with plasticizer have the highest relative MR effect.

Development of Dry Walnut Shell Edible Film Plasticized with Glycerol and/or Sorbitol and Incorporated with Aloe Vera Gel and Lemon Essential Oil

Edible packaging films produced from biomaterials are environmentally friendly, promising alternatives against synthetic plastics films. The aim of this study was to produce a low-cost edible film from waste dry walnut shell by casting method. Effects of the plasticizer type and concentration, lemon essential oil (LEO) and aloe vera gel (AVG) addition on edible films properties were investigated. Produced edible films characterization analysis were realized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Moisture content, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), water solubility, swelling index, thicknesses and color parameters of the produced edible films were investigated. Moisture content of the films was decreased between 23.3–50.6% after LEO and AVG addition, except the moisture content of the film plasticized with 20% sorbitol was increased by 518%. WVTR of the films were increased between 8.7–72.3% after LEO and AVG addition due to the hydrophobic character of LEO. Glycerol plasticized edible films water solubility were decreased between 27.3–75.9%, sorbitol plasticized edible films water solubility were increased between 237.5–100.8% with LEO and AVG incorporation. The swelling index of C1 was reduced by 51.5%, C2 was reduced by 62.4%, C4 was reduced by 36.1%. The swelling index of the C3 was increased by 10.5%, C5 was increased by 21.5%. LEO and AVG addition increased to the film thickness maximum 79.2%. Total color changes (ΔE) of glycerol plasticized films were higher than sorbitol plasticized film. The edible film produced can be used in food packaging due to the appropriate physical and barrier properties.

Application of unsupervised and supervised learning to a material attribute database of tablets produced at two different granulation scales

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the usefulness of machine learning (ML) for analyzing a material attribute database from tablets produced at different granulation scales. High shear wet granulators (scale 30 g and 1000 g) were used and data were collected according to the design of experiments at different scales. In total, 38 different tablets were prepared, and the tensile strength (TS) and dissolution rate after 10 min (DS10) were measured. In addition, 15 material attributes (MAs) related to particle size distribution, bulk density, elasticity, plasticity, surface properties, and moisture content of granules were evaluated. By using unsupervised learning including principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis, the regions of tablets produced at each scale were visualized. Subsequently, supervised learning with feature selection including partial least squares regression with variable importance in projection and elastic net were applied. The constructed models could predict the TS and DS10 from the MAs and the compression force with high accuracy (R2= 0.777 and 0.748, respectively), independent of scale. In addition, important factors were successfully identified. ML can be used for better understanding of similarity/dissimilarity between scales, for constructing predictive models of critical quality attributes, and for determining critical factors.

Study on thermal aging properties of PBT energetic elastomer

AbstractAccelerated aging experiments of 3,3‐bis(azidomethyl)oxetane (BAMO) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) copolymers (molar ratio 1 : 1, marked as PBT prepolymer) and PBT elastomer at elevated temperatures were performed to explore the aging mechanism of PBT energetic elastomer during long‐term storage. The evolution of functional groups, plasticizer content, element chemical state and crosslinking density were studied by FT‐IR, HPLC, XPS and swelling method, respectively. Results show that: (1) Oxidation of terminal hydroxyl, oxidative crosslinking between binder macromolecules, chain breaking of polymers and degradation of −CH2N3 occurred during the thermal aging of PBT prepolymer, and antioxidant (BHT) could effectively delay the thermal aging process of PBT prepolymer by absorbing the active oxidation substances. (2) The relative contents of −C=O showed a cubic function with time, and the relative contents of −NO2 and −N3 changed linearly with time during the thermal aging of PBT elastomer. The relative contents of BDNPF and BDNPA declined linearly with time, and the thermal stability of BDNPF was better than that of BDNPA. (3) The thermal aging of PBT elastomer experienced three main reaction stages: degradation of carbamate, the oxidative crosslinking of molecular chain caused by the decomposition products of BDNPF/BDNPA, and chain breaking of the polymer system. In addition, a small amount of −CH2N3 decomposed throughout the whole aging process.

PHYSICAL-MECHANICAL AND THERMAL DEFORMATION PROPERTIES OF PLASTICIZED HIGHLY FILLED COMPOSITES BASED ON POLYPROPYLENE AND QUARTZ

The influence of quartz content (silicon dioxide) on the main physical-mechanical properties of composites based on polypropylene is considered. It is shown that the loading of a compatibilizer – a copolymer of polypropylene with maleic anhydride – into the composition of the composite improves the properties and compatibility of the mixed components of the mixture. Properties such as ultimate tensile stress, tensile yield strength, elongation at break, Vicat softening temperature and melt flow index were studied. The use of synthesized polyethylene wax as a plasticizer made it possible to significantly improve the deformability of highly filled composites. The quartz concentration was varied within 5.0–25 % wt., and the plasticizer concentration was 1.0–3.0 % wt. The method of thermomechanical studies shows the patterns of change in thermomechanical curves in the temperature range of 20–250 °C, depending on the concentration of quartz, plasticizer and vulcanizing agent. The complex of studies carried out has opened up new possibilities for strengthening composites and increasing their Vicat softening temperature.

Capitalizing on social media: An evaluation of the public’s preferences for plastic surgery social media content

The effectiveness of utilizing social media platforms to promote clinical practices and attract patients has been well established. This study aimed to assess what plastic surgery social media content and educational material the public is most responsive to.An anonymous 25-question survey was distributed using REDCap and Amazon's Mechanical Turk to ascertain demographic information, patterns of social media use, levels of interest in plastic surgery, and preferences for plastic surgery content.Of 401 participants, the typical respondent was between 25 and 34 years old and on social media daily. Almost half of the respondents (46.1%) have intentionally viewed plastic surgery content on social media, of which most used Instagram (71.1%) and Facebook (55.4%). Participants grouped as either younger or older than 35 years old were equally likely to have viewed plastic surgery content (p = 0.33). Content categories with the highest interest were before and after results (mean Likert weight 4.00 ± 1.10), patient testimonials (3.73 ± 1.15), and recovery process (3.67 ± 1.14). Content on celebrities (2.89 ± 1.17), comedic videos (2.79 ± 1.19), and surgeons' private lives (2.51 ± 1.08) received negative interest. Photo posts (51.4%) were preferred more than video posts (27.2%). Before and after results on social media were the most influential factor in the selection of a plastic surgeon (45.9%).The importance of social media for plastic surgeons to be able to interact with patients is at unprecedented heights. Understanding patterns of the public's social media content preferences will help plastic surgeons optimize their social media reach and influence their target audience.

Formulation Controls the Potential Neuromuscular Toxicity of Polyethylene Photoproducts in Developing Zebrafish.

Sunlight transforms plastic into water-soluble products, the potential toxicity of which remains unresolved, particularly for vertebrate animals. We evaluated acute toxicity and gene expression in developing zebrafish larvae after 5 days of exposure to photoproduced (P) and dark (D) leachates from additive-free polyethylene (PE) film and consumer-grade, additive-containing, conventional, and recycled PE bags. Using a "worst-case" scenario, with plastic concentrations exceeding those found in natural waters, we observed no acute toxicity. However, at the molecular level, RNA sequencing revealed differences in the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for each leachate treatment: thousands of genes (5442 P, 577 D) for the additive-free film, tens of genes for the additive-containing conventional bag (14 P, 7 D), and none for the additive-containing recycled bag. Gene ontology enrichment analyses suggested that the additive-free PE leachates disrupted neuromuscular processes via biophysical signaling; this was most pronounced for the photoproduced leachates. We suggest that the fewer DEGs elicited by the leachates from conventional PE bags (and none from recycled bags) could be due to differences in photoproduced leachate composition caused by titanium dioxide-catalyzed reactions not present in the additive-free PE. This work demonstrates that the potential toxicity of plastic photoproducts can be product formulation-specific.

Investigation of Wastes Plastic and Glass to Enhance Physical - Mechanical Properties of Fired Clay Brick

Abstract Around the world, large amounts of plastic and glass waste have been collected. This work is given as a way to reduce this material. This paper aims to investigate how fired clay bricks' physical and mechanical properties are affected by plastic/glass (P/G) powder. It is used as a replacement for clay, varying the plastic/glass content 00/20, 05/15, 10/10, 15/05, and 20/00 weight %. The ratio of soil to water remains constant 0.3. The maximum temperature is presented after three fire phases. The temperatures are 300 °C for the first, 600 °C for the second, and 900 °C for the third. Results for the physical properties showed an increase in the water absorption of clay brick specimens as the plastic content increased; in addition, efflorescence was increased with plastic powder. However, the density and firing shrinkage decrease with plastic quantity. Also, the experimental results showed a decrease in water absorption and efflorescence when the glass powder was increased. While the density is higher when glass powder is 20 %. According to the findings on mechanical properties, clay brick samples with higher plastic powder content 20 % displayed a decrease in compressive strength and flexural bending strength, i. e. the mechanical properties (compressive and flexural strengths) are increased with the increased

Morphological, water barrier and biodegradable properties of sugar palm nanocellulose/starch biopolymer composites incorporated with cinnamon essential oils

Abstract In the past few decades, there has been increased interest in the use of natural fibers as reinforcement in bioplastic polymer composites because it is biodegradable. This is a result of the drawbacks of biodegradable polymer-based materials, which are brittle, intractable, and poorly water-sensitive. Natural fibers are chosen because they may be obtained organically, can be collected safely, and can be less expensive. In this work, cinnamon essential oil (CEO)/sugar palm nanocellulose/starch biopolymer composites were casted to investigate the morphological, water barrier and biodegradable properties. From the research, it shows water absorption increased regarding the plasticizer concentration. Besides, water vapor permeability (WVP) and solubility of the different concentration plasticizer used in the biopolymer shows an increasing trend due to high water content. All films degrade completely after the 12th day indicating the biodegradability of the film. Furthermore, seal strength for the lower concentrations of plasticizer shows the higher strength, while GS4.5 cannot be sealed due to high water contents. The images show the compatible films with slightly yellowish and transparent films. The variation of plasticizers did not affect the antibacterial activity of CEO inside the film forming solution. Overall, cinnamon essential oil (CEO)/sugar palm nanocellulose/starch biopolymer composites are good potential to enhance their suitability for food packaging applications.

Sugar palm (Arenga p innata) thermoplastic starch nanocomposite films reinforced with nanocellulose

Abstract The growing consciousness about global environmental concerns, particularly landfills, in conjunction with the rapid use of petroleum-based plastics, is a key factor behind the use of natural and biodegradable polymers in short-life applications like food packaging, container, and tray. Sugar palm stem is a biomass that has proven the potential to produce biodegradable polymers such as sugar palm starch. Nevertheless, their applications were limited due to their low tensile strength and excessive hydrophilicity. Plasticization using polyols, reinforcement with sugar palm fiber, cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, or nanocellulose, blending with thermoplastic polymer, and addition of essential oils has been used to maximize the functional qualities of the starch biopolymer. As the content of plasticizers grew, the glass transition temperature and water absorption ability decreased. Furthermore, the addition of sugar palm nanocellulose to sugar palm starch improves the performances of sugar palm starch-based films as a packaging material. Addition of essential oil contributes to antibacterial properties and slightly improved tensile strength of the film. A comprehensive understanding on the interaction of starch-based biodegradable polymer and nanocellulose constituents for enhancing the physico-chemical properties of starch-based films is prerequisite for researchers in the design of industrial products with enhanced functional attributes. To address the knowledge gap, more studies including the reinforcement of new types of biodegradable polymer and nanocellulose derived from natural sources should be conducted in order to continually populate the database for research purposes.

Effect of Phosphorus and Chlorine Containing Plasticizers on the Physicochemical and Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Composites

The possibility of using tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate, tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate and tris(4-methylphenyl) phosphate as effective plasticizers for epoxy polymers has been studied. As a result of the research the optimum content of plasticizers (40 parts by mass) has been determined, which has the best effect on the strength and fire safety properties of epoxy composites. Modification of the epoxy polymer with presented plasticizers influences carbonization process increasing char yield and reducing the amount of volatile thermolysis products released into the gas phase, thus improving fire safety parameters of epoxy composites, reducing mass loss on ignition in air from 78 to 2–9% and increasing limiting oxygen index (LOI) values from 19 to 25–31% by volume, giving good fire protective properties to epoxy composites (UL-94 rating—V-0/V-1). The thermo-protective properties and the structure of the char formed by polymer combustion have been studied and the correlation between the thermo-protective properties of the char and the combustibility of the composite has been determined. Furthermore, the behaviour of the modified composite during high rate pyrolysis has been analyzed.

Experimental studies on durability and deflection behavior of concrete in metakaolin cement concrete

The most frequently used components in conventional concrete are cement, sand, coarse aggregate, and water. Cement production and hydration produce a lot of heat and release the greenhouse gas CO2, which contributes to climate change and global warming. By employing industrial wastes like GGBS, metakaolin, and copper slag, concrete may be manufactured largely without cement and sand. In this investigation, seven M30 grade concrete mixes—designated M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, and M7—as well as a control mix are produced. The super plasticizer content in cement is 0.75 percent by weight. The maximum and minimum cement replacement rates for GGBS and Metakaolin are 5% and 10%, respectively. 20%, 40%, and 60% of copper slag are replacement values. Acid attack, water absorption, sorptivity, and porosity are a few examples of properties that contribute to workability and durability. The flexural behaviour of an RCC beam is examined. In terms of RCC beam behaviour, the mixture of MC4 with 5% GGBS, 5% MK, and 40% copper slag offers the highest flexural toughness rating. Due to copper slag's low water absorption rate, concrete can progressively increase in strength by up to 40%. Of the seven, the MC5 mixture is the toughest. Because of the high surface area and pozzolanic activity of GGBS and metakaolin, mix MC5 has the lowest water absorption, sorptivity, and porosity values of all the mixes. The most acid resistance is found in the MC2 mixture, which contains 20% copper slag, 5% GGBS, and 5% metakaolin. This is true for both hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid.

Plasticisers for edible packaging made of thermoplastic sago starch

Potential use of thermoplastic starch as better alternative material for single use packaging is of interest. Sago starch which is prevalent in South East Asia is the material of choice. Brittle nature of thermoplastic starch as it is can be overcome by using plasticisers. Aiming to produce edible thermoplastic sago starch, this study examined the use of glycerol, sorbitol, fructose, and their combinations as the plasticiser. Plasticiser addition of 25 wt% and 40 wt% in the thermoplastic sago starch is also a variable. The thermoplastic starches were tested in terms of strength, elongation at break, and solubility. The tests were done on week 1 and week 5 after fabrication. It was found that sorbitol, fructose, and sorbitol-fructose combination at 25 wt% did not function as plasticiser for the thermoplastic sago starch. Glycerol addition at 25 wt% resulted in 0.89 MPa strength and 10.4 % elongation at break. At this low content, combining glycerol with sorbitol or fructose lowers the mechanical properties. At 40 wt%, glycerol showed lower strength and higher elongation compared to its low content counterpart. When combined with sorbitol or fructose, the mixtures showed higher strength but lower elongation. The highest strength was shown by thermoplastic sago starch with 40 wt% sorbitol at 1.41 MPa although the elongation was among the lowest. After 5 weeks of storage time, only thermoplastic starch with 40 wt% glycerol and glycerol combinations is ductile enough to be tensile tested. The strength and elongation is lower than the result from week 1. Solubility increases at high plasticiser content. After 5 weeks of storage time, the thermoplastic sago starch showed lower solubility.