Water affinity and environmental characteristics of thermoplastic cassava starch/beeswax reinforced with sugarcane bagasse fibre

Jumaidin, Ridhwan and Kamaruddin, Zatil Hafila and Haniyun, Nurul’ain and Bahari, Adli and Zakaria, Nazri Huzaimi and Abdul Kudus, Syahibudil Ikhwan and Shaharuzaman, Mohd Adrinata and Rushdan, Ahmad Ilyas and Aziz, Alia Ruzanna and Saravanan, Letchmanan and Parasuraman, Ramaness and Mahardika, Melbi (2026) Water affinity and environmental characteristics of thermoplastic cassava starch/beeswax reinforced with sugarcane bagasse fibre. Jurnal Kejuruteraan, 38 (1). pp. 127-136. ISSN 0128-0198

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Abstract

This study examines the effects of sugarcane bagasse on the properties of thermoplastic cassava starch (TPCS)/ beeswax (BW) composites. Composites containing sugarcane bagasse at varying ratios (10–30 wt.%) were prepared using dry mixing and hot pressing at 145°C. The environmental performance of TPCS/BW/sugarcane bagasse composites was assessed through key indicators such as water solubility and soil biodegradability. In addition, their water affinity characteristics including moisture content, moisture uptake, water absorption, thickness swelling, and morphological features were systematically evaluated to understand their interaction with humid environments. Results demonstrated that the inclusion of sugarcane bagasse reduced the weight loss of the composites during soil burial and water solubility testing, indicating a reduced degradation rate. Water and moisture absorption tests revealed that increasing the sugarcane bagasse ratio decreased the water and moisture absorption percentages, suggesting enhanced hydrophobicity of the materials. However, the overall moisture content increased with higher fibre loading due to the hydrophilic nature of sugarcane bagasse. Thickness swelling analysis showed that adding fibre from 0 to 30 wt.% increased the swelling percentage from 41.1% to 54.1% following two hours of immersion. Morphological examination supported these findings by revealing the composite’s internal structure and fiber-matrix interaction. This suggests that while sugarcane bagasse enhances moisture retention, it also increases expansion upon water exposure. Overall, sugarcane bagasse reduced the water affinity of thermoplastic starch (TPS) while increasing swelling and moisture content, demonstrating its significant influence on the composite’s structural and environmental performance.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Beeswax, Cassava starch, Natural fibre, Sugarcane bagasse fibre, Thermoplastic starch
Divisions:	Faculty Of Industrial And Manufacturing Technology And Engineering
Depositing User:	Sabariah Ismail
Date Deposited:	13 Jul 2026 06:27
Last Modified:	13 Jul 2026 06:27
URI:	http://eprints.utem.edu.my/id/eprint/29789
Statistic Details:	View Download Statistic

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