Thermoplastic starch films reinforced with electrospun PLLA and oxidized sucrose as both a crosslinker and compatibilizer

The increasing demand for eco-friendly packaging materials has driven extensive research into biodegradable alternatives. This paper focuses on enhancing starch-based films' mechanical and water barrier properties by incorporating electrospun PLLA fibers as a physical reinforcing phase with oxidized sucrose introduced as a novel crosslinking agent. Oxidized sucrose concentrations (3–15 wt%) were varied to investigate their effect on the film's structure and performance. Results demonstrate that oxidized sucrose functions as both an effective crosslinker and compatibilizer, improving integration between the starch matrix and PLLA fibers. This dual functionality contributes to a more cohesive, durable film structure, providing significant improvements over non-crosslinked films. The formulation with 9 wt% oxidized sucrose exhibited a tensile strength of 1.8 MPa and an elongation at break of 40 %, which is comparable to biodegradable polymer films, reported in the literature. Additionally, the improved water barrier properties can be attributed to the crosslinking effect of oxidized sucrose, making the film promising for practical applications. These findings highlight the potential of oxidized sucrose to advance biodegradable packaging solutions. • Thermoplastic starch with electrospun poly( L -lactic acid) obtained by extrusion method. • Oxidized sucrose as an effective crosslinking agent and compatibilizer of investigated films. • Film with 9 wt% oxidised sucrose with significantly better mechanical, structural, thermal and barrier properties.