Biodegradable composites based on starch/EVOH/glycerol blends and coconut fibers

Unripe coconut fibers were used as fillers in a biodegradable polymer matrix of starch/ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH)/glycerol. The effects of fiber content on the mechanical, thermal, and structural properties were evaluated. The addition of coconut fiber into starch/EVOH/glycerol blends reduced the ductile behavior of the matrix by making the composites more brittle. At low fiber content, blends were more flexible, with higher tensile strength than at higher fiber levels. The temperature at the maximum degradation rate slightly shifted to lower values as fiber content increased. Comparing blends with and without fibers, there was no drastic change in melt temperature of the matrix with increase of fiber content, indicating that fibers did not lead to significant changes in crystalline structure. The micrographs of the tensile fractured specimens showed a large number of holes resulting from fiber pull‐out from the matrix, indicating poor adhesion between fiber and matrix. Although starch alone degraded readily, starch/EVOH/glycerol blends exhibited much slower degradation in compost. Composites produced 24.4–28.8% less CO₂ compared with starch in a closed‐circuit respirometer. Addition of increasing amount of fiber in starch/EVOH/glycerol composite had no impact on its biodegradation. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009