Structure-properties relationships in alkaline treated rice husk reinforced thermoplastic cassava starch biocomposites

The study focuses on structure-properties relationships in thermoplastic cassava starch (TPS) based biocomposites comprising 5–20 wt% of untreated and treated rice husk (RH). Alkaline treatment with 11% w/v NaOH removed the hemicellulose layer RH as confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), resulted a larger population –OH groups exposing fibril surface. Consequently, filler-matrix interactions between TPS were enhanced, although Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area indicated that was not increased. Interestingly, contained 20 showed substantially improved tensile strength factor 220% compared to neat TPS. biocomposite at 15 high water absorption. all contents biodegradation rate, while thermal stability TPS/treated slightly decreased. These novel composites promising properties for applications absorbents. • (TRH) possessed more OH than RH. TRH biocomposites. TPS/TRH higher absorption biodegradability TPS/untreated