Biomass-Based Foam from Crosslinked Tapioca Starch/ Polybutylene Succinate Blend

Biomass-based foam was prepared from tapioca starch crosslinked with glyoxal and polybutylene succinate (PBS) by hot press molding. Temperatures of the mold were 160 °C on the upper plate and 165 °C on the lower plate at 80–100 kg_f/cm² for 2 minutes and 15 seconds. Glyoxal was used as tapioca starch crosslinking agent at 0.0269% weight. The effect of PBS content (5–30 wt%) on the morphology, density, mechanical properties and water absorption of crosslinked starch/PBS blend foams were studied. It was found that crosslinking increased density and flexural strength but reduced water absorption and flexural strain of starch foams. Separation of PBS phase is found as small droplets in the foam microstructure. Higher PBS content in biomassbased foam improves the flexural stress and reduces water absorption of the blend.