The need for sustainable packing materials with performance like petroleum-based polymers is growing. This study attempts to develop a biodegradable ternary biopolymer composite by reinforcing starch with nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), and nanolignin (NL). Both NCC and NL were synthesized from oil palm waste, i.e., empty fruit bunch (EFB), which is biodegradable in nature; doing this improves the overall sustainability of the product. The developed composites were characterized for optical, thermal, mechanical and UV barrier properties. UV-vis spectrometry results revealed a synergistic effect between NL and NCC in improving the transparency and UV light barrier of the composites. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the film with 4 wt% of NL and 4 wt% of NCC increased from 40 oC to 61 oC compared to the neat film. In addition, the tensile strength was found to be approximately 150% higher than the neat film. This work suggested that incorporating NL and NCC into the starch composites could be a promising alternative to current packaging material with improved mechanical strength, thermal stability, water, and UV light barrier performance.
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