Conclusions
A suspension of microcrystalline cellulose from palm pressed fiber (MCPF), having an average length about 0.480+0.023 μm, was prepared by acid hydrolysis and used as a reinforcing agent for RS film to obtained RS/MCPF biocomposite films. The rice starch film/ MCPF biocomposite films increased in TS from 5.16 MPa for pure rice starch film to 44.23 MPa but decreased in elongation at the break of composites. The incorporation of MCPF into rice starch films provided an improvement of water resistance for the rice starch films. The improvement properties of the films can be attributed to the formation of rigid hydrogen-bonded network of cellulose in the composite that is governed by the percolation mechanism. The morphology of the existence of MCPF in the rice starch film can be easily observed in the composite films when more than 15% of MCPF was used, and was concomitant with larger agglomerates.