The Effect of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) and Glycerol Concentrations on The Quality of Biodegradable Foam from Canna edulis Kerr and Corncobs Azmi Alvian Gabriel, S.TP., M.P; Nurul Fadhillah Achmad
Universitas Internasional Semen Indonesia (UISI)
Abstract
The use of styrofoam as a package was increasingly widespread, resulting in adverse impacts on the environtment and health. This damage due to the styrofoam material which cannot be easily decomposed by nature. Biofoam was one of solution that can be used as a substitute for the use of styrofoam as a disposable package. Biofoam characteristic were made from natural polymers such as starch and fiber. However, the biofoam produced was hydrophobic so it cannot use to package product with high water content. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and glycerol concentration on the physical mechanical, thermal and biodegradability of biofoam from Canna edulis Kerr as starch source and corncob as fiber source. The method of making biofoam used was thermopressing principle. Variation of PVA is (0%, 25%, 30%, and 35%), and the variation of glycerol is (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) from dry weight of the ingredients. Parameter performed of Biofoam include water content, density, water absorption, tensile strength, compressing strenght, thermal properties and biodegradability.
