The plasticizer type and concentration affected the mechanical properties of cassava starch films; glycerol-containing films showed the lowest values for tensile stress (Fig. 3), due to its hygroscopic character that tends to provide additional water into the film matrix. Cuq, Gontard, Cuq, and Guilber (1997) stressed that plasticizers with lower molecular weight produced more film plasticization than the higher ones, at same mass basis, and suggested that plasticizer effect should be examined on a molar basis, i.e. when used at same mass basis, the number of moles of glycerol incorporated in the films were higher than the sorbitol ones, and this certainly is more important to the plasticizing effect.