Synergistic Effects of Maleic Anhydride and Epoxidized Palm Oil on PLA/Tapioca Starch Biocomposites

The proliferation of single‐use plastics (SUPs) has raised concerns about waste management and environmental sustainability. Polylactic acid (PLA) can be used as a green alternative, but its high cost and brittleness have hindered its widespread adoption. This paper explores the use of compatibilizer and plasticizer to enhance the compatibility and flexibility of PLA/tapioca starch (TS) biocomposites. Maleic anhydride (MA) was grafted to form PLA‐g‐MA and used as a compatibilizer followed by the addition of epoxidized palm oil (EPO) as a plasticizer. Results demonstrated an overall positive impact, indicating the opportunity to develop an optimized blend composition. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) confirmed the presence of new functional groups, while thermal analysis indicated successful compatibilization. Plasticization was verified by a reduced T g . Rheology confirmed pseudoplastic behavior with n value of 0.510 < n < 0.552 and activation energy ( E a ) of 25.25 kJ/mol. Tensile tests showed that the addition of 5% PLA‐g‐MA improved the tensile strength by 13%, while the addition of 2% of EPO doubled the elongation at break. The Young’s modulus of the plasticized blend observed a decrease, which indicated improved ductility. Morphology confirmed compatibilization and demonstrated microfibrils. Overall, the PLA/tapioca biocomposite exhibited favorable properties, high quality, and cost‐effectiveness, indicating good potential in short‐term food packaging applications.