Characteristics of nanocomposite film based on elephant foot-yam starch (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius) with different nanocrystalline cellulose concentration

Bionanocomposite film is composed of renewable materials such as polymer with the addition of nanofiller in the form of nanocrystal cellulose (NCC). Biopolymer serves as a matrix, while nanofiller is dispersed to improve the functional properties. NCC is a nanoparticle commonly used in the production of bioplastics, and the addition to nanocomposite film can enhance the mechanical and barrier properties. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the physio-chemical, mechanical, and permeability characteristics of elephant foot-yam starch-based nanocomposite films by adding different concentrations of NCC at 3, 5, and 7 wt.%. The experiment used elephant foot-yam starch, NCC, sorbitol, and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as biopolymer, nanofiller, plasticizer, and stabilizer, respectively. The results showed that the optimum concentration was 7 wt.% NCC, showing tensile strength, elongation, WVTR, and thickness consistent with the Japanese Industrial Standard. NCC dispersion showed favorable water solubility and excellent biodegradability, yielding optimal SEM and FTI-R results. SEM analysis showed a well-dispersed structure, while FTI-R showed sharper spectra in specific functional groups. Moreover, XRD showed several diffraction peaks with strong intensity at 2θ = 17.12°(101̅), 22.75° (002), and 35.0° (040), confirming the presence of NCC in the film matrix. Based on the results, this nanocomposite had great potential to be developed into environmentally friendly packaging.