Sago starch was chemically modified by esterification with fatty acid chlorides of different chain-lengths (hexanoyl, octanoyl and lauroyl chlorides) in the absence of an organic solvent.  The products with different degree of substitution (DS) were blended with poly(vinly chloride) (PVC) at various proportions by using conventional solvent-casting technique.  The blends were characterized by FT-IR and, their thermal, mechanical and water absorption properties were investigated as a function of blend composition.  Result of

FT-IR analysis showed that there was no intermolecular interaction between sago esters and PVC.  The existence of sago esters in the blends had enhanced the thermal properties of pure PVC plastic. The blends also exhibited satisfactory mechanical property up to 20 wt % of sago ester content where they still retain 80% of pure PVC mechanical properties and showed a minimal water uptake capacity (<4 wt%).