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Cornstarch (CS) is an inexpensive and widely available material that can be easily moulded into thermoplastic starch (TPS) films when mixed with the plasticising agent glycerol (CS- Gly). However, its applications in the packaging sector are limited due to its brittleness and high-water solubility. To enhance the functional characteristics of the CS- Gly films in packaging applications, it was blended with neem gum at the concentrations of 0.3 and 0.9% (w/w). The tensile strength, elongation percentage, water sorption and biodegradability efficacy of the blended cornstarch films (CS-Gly-NG) were analysed. The tensile strength of the blended film improved by 1.1-fold compared with CS-Gly (24.49 ± 0.72 MPa) when the natural gum additive was used at 0.30% (w/w). However, once the natural gum content was raised to 0.9% (w/w), the TS of the film decreased to 21.28 ± 1.75 MPa, whereas the resistance to water solubility improved to a greater extent. Moreover, the biodegradability test showed that the blended films (64-69 wt %) disintegrated more rapidly than the CS-Gly film (17.3%) in a setting akin to the natural environment. Therefore, this blended film (CS-Gly-NG) can be used as an alternative to the commercially available non-biodegradable polyethene films and will have a positive impact on the environment.

Effect of neem gum on water sorption, biodegradability and mechanical properties of thermoplastic corn starch-based packaging films