Tensile Strength and Moisture Resistance Properties of Biocomposite Films Based on Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) with Cellulose as Reinforcement from Durian Peel Fibers

¹ Department of Biosystems Engineering, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, South Lampung, 35365, Indonesia
² Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Jember, Jember, 68121, Indonesia
³ Department of Chemical Engineering, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, South Lampung, 35365, Indonesia
⁴ Department of Agricultural Technology, Agricultural Polytechnic, Payakumbuh, West Sumatra 26271, Indonesia
⁵ Natural Composites Research Group Lab, Department of Materials and Production Engineering, The Sirindhorn International ThaiGerman Graduate School of Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Bangkok, 10800, Thailand

^* Corresponding author: melbi.mahardika@tbs.itera.ac.id

Abstract

Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) based biocomposite film with cellulose was successfully fabricated by the solution casting method. The cellulose fibers were obtained by extraction of durian peel using alkalization and bleaching treatments. These treated cellulose fibers were used for the fabrication of PVA-based biocomposites. The durian peel cellulose fibers were varied by 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% in the PVA matrix. Tensile test and moisture resistance of biocomposites were evaluated. The 6% addition of cellulose fibers in biocomposites increases the tensile strength up to 54% (37 MPa) than pure PVA film (24 MPa). Conversely, it reduces the elongation at break of the biocomposite film. Meanwhile, the moisture resistance properties of the biocomposites increased with the addition of cellulose fibers. The tensile strength and moisture resistance of biocomposites have been increased due to the homogeneous dispersion of the cellulose fibers and PVA matrix. These biocomposites able to reduce the environmental impacts by utilizing residual lignocellulosic biomass.