Fortunato Sevilla III and Russell Valdez
Abstract
Bioplastics are an environment-friendly alternative to petroleum-based
plastics. However, the usefulness of these materials as a replacement to the
conventional plastics is dependent on its physicochemical properties, such as mechanical strength, water resistance, and transparency. This paper presents a literature review of the physicochemical properties of bioplastics prepared from different sources. It also discusses the standard methods and equipment for the measurement of the chemical composition and physical properties of these materials. The mechanical, thermal and barrier properties and characteristics of bioplastics from terrestrial, marine and microbial sources were compiled from different sources, and compared with those of the fossil- based plastics. In general, the tensile strength of bioplastics was lower than the conventional plastics. However, some bioplastics, such as those derived from chitin, alginates, sago starch and kaong (Arenga pinnata) starch showed comparable mechanical properties to that of conventional plastics. The barrier properties of bioplastics were not as well studied as the mechanical properties, but are important for packaging applications. The cellulose-based and algae-based bioplastics had high barrier properties to water vapor, while the starch-based bioplastics had poor barrier properties to water vapor and oxygen.