Chemically treated Borneo sago (Metroxylon sagu) starch reinforced poly lactic acid bio-composites

Properties of Borneo sago starch reinforced poly-(lactic acid) (PLA) composites were evaluated, with attention to the effects of treatment with acrylic acid, benzene diazonium chloride, and tetrahydrofuran. The PLA-sago composites treated with tetrahydrofuran had the highest tensile strength, with a maximum value of 0.85 MPa at 20 wt%; whereas the PLA-sago composites treated with benzene diazonium chloride had the highest modulus of elasticity, with a maximum modulus of elasticity of 28 kPa at 5 wt%. Scanning electron microscopy images of the surfaces showed good interfacial contact between the PLA and the sago starch treated with benzene diazonium chloride. The Fourier-transform infrared spectra revealed the functional group characteristics of the chemicals composition of the materials. According to the thermogravimetric analysis results, all of the composites displayed thermal stability up to a temperature of 300 °C. The differential scanning calorimetry analysis revealed that the poly lactic acid-sago composites treated with benzene diazonium chloride had the highest melting point.