Sunflower Oil Industry By-product as Natural Filler of Biocomposite Foams for Packaging Applications

The use of agroindustry by-products as reinforcements and/or composites filler is an innovative and economically attractive option that still under study. Hence, the present work aims to study composite foams based on cassava-starch sunflower oil press cake (SOPC), industry by-product, using urea additive enhance biocomposites foaming capacity. Filler content (0, 20, 40 wt%) addition effect foam morphology, physical properties mechanical behaviour were analysed compared a benchmark polystyrene (PS) foam. In comparison with conventional PS foams, biofoams containing presented comparable yet higher hydrophilicity. Besides, formulations SOPC resulted in denser harder materials water uptake capacity than starch-based foams. Results provide further insights into biobased biodegradable development agroindustrial residues raw material agent, promising characteristics for food packaging.