Tensile, Thermal and Moisture Absorption Properties of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) / Bengkuang (Pachyrhizus erosus) Starch Blend Films

Abstract

This paper described of the tensile, thermal, and moisture absorption characteristic of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) / bengkuang (Pachyrhizus erosus) starch blend films. The film was produced through solution casting method. Tensile, thermogravimetric analysis and moisture test were studied to determine the tensile strength, thermal stability, and moisture absorption, respectively. The highest tensile strength (TS) was 15.86 ± 0.69 MPa for pure PVA film. This result was higher than bengkuang starch and its blends film. Tensile elongation (TE) decreased as increased bengkuang starch content in PVA. The thermal degradation of PVA film was higher 10 °C than bengkuang starch films in range temperature 200-380 °C. The addition of bengkuang starch in PVA also increased moisture absorption. The highest moisture absorption was in bengkuang starch film. This blend film’s tensile, thermal, and moisture properties probably suggested it could be suitable for food packaging.