Nonisothermal crystallization and microstructural behavior of poly(ε-caprolactone) and granular tapioca starch-based biocomposites

The nonisothermal crystallization behavior of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) in the presence of varying concentrations of granular tapioca starch (GTS) was studied. Various crystallization parameters were studied by differential scanning calorimeter at four different cooling rates and these parameters were analyzed using Jeziorny, Ozawa, and Liu models. Kissinger method was used to estimate the activation energy (Delta E) of the PCL/GTS composites. The Delta E results suggested that the speed of crystallization was inhibited by GTS particles. Polarized light optical microscopy suggests formation of spherulite structure in PCL and PCL/GTS composites while no evidence of nucleation by GTS particles was observed.