Majid Pirali Hamedani - Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute, P.O. Box 14965/115, Tehran, Iran
Ebrahim Khalaj - Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 14115-111, Tehran, Iran
Omidreza Hashemi - Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 14115-111, Tehran, Iran

In this research, a novel biodegradable polymer composite based on thermoplastic starch was prepared for use in agricultural applications. For this purpose, tea waste was added to thermoplastic starch (TPS) as fine powder to achieve a novel biodegradable composite with lower cost of final products. Flow, thermal and mechanical properties of the novel thermoplastic starch/tea composite were also investigated. It was found that this biodegradable composite can be shaped by injection molding and then used for transplanting or as a pot with natural black color

Thermoplastic Starch, Tea Waste, Thermal Behavior, Mechanical Properties