Abstract Biodegradable polymer was prepared as thermoplastic
starch (TPS) using rice and waxy rice starches.
In order to increase mechanical properties and reduce water
absorption of the TPS, cotton fiber was incorporated as the
fiber reinforcement into the TPS matrix. The effect of
cotton fiber contents and lengths on properties of the TPS
was examined. Internal mixer and compression molding
machine were used to mix and shape the samples. It was
found that the thermoplastic rice starch (TPRS) showed
higher stress at maximum load and Young’s modulus but
lower strain at maximum load than the thermoplastic waxy
rice starch (TPWRS). In addition, stress at maximum load
and Young’s modulus of both TPRS and TPWRS increased
significantly with the addition of the cotton fiber. Cotton
fiber contents and lengths also affected mechanical properties
of the TPRS and TPWRS composites. Moreover,
water absorption of the TPRS and TPWRS composites
decreased by the use of the cotton fibers. FT-IR and XRD
techniques were used to study a change in functional group
and crystallinity of the thermoplastic starch composites.
Morphological, thermal and biodegradable properties of
different thermoplastic starch composites were also
investigated.