The aim of this research is to study the preparation and properties of thermoplastic starch/maleic anhydride-grafted-natural rubber blend. The molecular weight of natural rubber was reduced by reacting with phenylhydrazine to produce liquid natural rubber (LNR). Subsequently, LNR was reacted with maleic anhydride at 3 phr or 9 phr. The FTIR and 1H-NMR results showed the anhydride characteristic peaks. The cassava starch, maleic anhydride-grafted-natural rubber (MNR), and glycerol were mixed together in an internal mixer. The specimens were prepared in compression molding machine. The impact strength, tensile properties and thermal stability of specimens were examined. From the results we found that the impact strength of the specimens increased with increasing the grafting content. However, the effect of percent grafting on the thermal stability was not significant.
