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  <front>
    <journal-meta>
      <journal-id journal-id-type="publisher">BJCR</journal-id>
      <journal-title-group>
        <journal-title xml:lang="en">British Journal of Contemporary Research</journal-title>
        <abbrev-journal-title xml:lang="en">BJCR</abbrev-journal-title>
      </journal-title-group>
      <issn>2979-8582</issn>
      <publisher>
        <publisher-name>Bexford Publishing Ltd</publisher-name>
        <publisher-loc><uri>https://bexfordpublishing.co.uk</uri></publisher-loc>
      </publisher>
    </journal-meta>
    <article-meta>
      <article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">BEX_JUN_26_165</article-id>
      
      <article-categories>
        <subj-group xml:lang="en" subj-group-type="heading">
          <subject>Original Research Article</subject>
        </subj-group>
      </article-categories>
      <title-group>
        <article-title xml:lang="en">Effect of Glycerol Plasticization on the Mechanical and Physical Properties of PLA/Tapioca Starch Biofilm</article-title>
      </title-group>
      <contrib-group content-type="author">
      <contrib corresp="yes">
        <name-alternatives>
          <name name-style="western" specific-use="primary">
            <given-names>Lakshmiganthan</given-names>
          </name>
        </name-alternatives>
        <email>smlphd21@gmail.com</email>
        <bio xml:lang="en"><p>Research Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, St. Josephs Engineering college , India</p></bio>
      </contrib>
      <contrib>
        <name-alternatives>
          <name name-style="western" specific-use="primary">
            <given-names>Vaddi seshagiri Rao</given-names>
          </name>
        </name-alternatives>
        <email>raosvaddi@gmail.com</email>
        <bio xml:lang="en"><p>Professor-Department of Mechanical Engineering, St. Josephs Engineering College</p></bio>
      </contrib>
      <contrib>
        <name-alternatives>
          <name name-style="western" specific-use="primary">
            <given-names>Sathish Rengarajan</given-names>
          </name>
        </name-alternatives>
        <email>sathishrenga1978@gmail.com</email>
        <bio xml:lang="en"><p>Professor- Department of Mechanical Engineering, St. Josephs Engineering College</p></bio>
      </contrib>
      <contrib>
        <name-alternatives>
          <name name-style="western" specific-use="primary">
            <given-names>Srividhya</given-names>
          </name>
        </name-alternatives>
        <email>srividhya132@gmail.com</email>
        <bio xml:lang="en"><p>Associate professor-Department of Civil Engineering, Kangeyam Institute of Technology</p></bio>
      </contrib>
      <contrib>
        <name-alternatives>
          <name name-style="western" specific-use="primary">
            <given-names>Mullaikodi</given-names>
          </name>
        </name-alternatives>
        <email>mullaikodism@gmail.com</email>
        <bio xml:lang="en"><p>Subject Expert-Department of Mechanical Engineering, L&amp;T Edu Tech Chennai</p></bio>
      </contrib>
      </contrib-group>
      <pub-date date-type="pub" publication-format="epub">
        <day>10</day>
        <month>07</month>
        <year>2026</year>
      </pub-date>
      <volume>1</volume>
      <issue>2</issue>
      
      
      <pub-history>
        <event event-type="received">
          <event-desc>Received: <date date-type="received">
            <day>29</day>
            <month>06</month>
            <year>2026</year>
          </date></event-desc>
        </event>
        
        <event event-type="accepted">
          <event-desc>Accepted: <date date-type="accepted">
            <day>06</day>
            <month>07</month>
            <year>2026</year>
          </date></event-desc>
        </event>
      </pub-history>
      <permissions>
        <copyright-statement>Copyright (c) 2026 Lakshmiganthan</copyright-statement>
        <copyright-year>2026</copyright-year>
        <license xlink:href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0">
          <license-p>This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.</license-p>
        </license>
      </permissions>
      <abstract><p>Starch-based polymers such as polylactic acid (PLA) are increasingly used in biomedical 
devices, medical tools and packaging due to their biodegradability, biocompatibility and good 
processability. In this study, biofilms were prepared using PLA, tapioca starch and glycerol. 
A PLA-to-starch ratio of 70:30 (w/w) was maintained with glycerol added at concentrations 
of 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 ml. Mechanical testing showed that the 4 ml glycerol film had the 
highest tensile strength, while higher glycerol levels improved flexibility. Soil burial tests 
revealed that the 12 ml glycerol sample degraded completely within 28 days. Water solubility 
and swelling increased with glycerol content due to its hydrophilic nature. FTIR analysis 
confirmed hydrogen bonding between PLA, Tapioca starch and glycerol, with peak shifts in 
hydroxyl and carbonyl regions. SEM images indicated smoother and more uniform surfaces at 
higher glycerol concentrations, suggesting improved compatibility. TGA results showed a 
slight reduction in thermal stability with increased glycerol, attributed to greater chain 
mobility. These findings demonstrate that glycerol content significantly influences the 
mechanical, thermal and biodegradation properties of PLA–starch biofilms.</p></abstract>
    </article-meta>
  </front>
  <body/>
</article>