ARS | Publication request: GRANULAR STARCH IN BIODEGRADABLE COMPOSITES

Submitted to: Fifth Chemical Congress of North America
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 15, 1997
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Granular starch has been widely investigated as a low-cost component of biodegradable materials. Its utility has been hampered by the low degree of adhesion at the granule-resin interface. Poor adhesion results in interface debonding under load and the consequent formation of stress concentrating voids. Under these conditions, starch behaves as an inert filler rather than an active, reinforcing component. Various approaches have been examined to improve the granule-resin adhesion, with the goal of increasing the starch content while maintaining acceptable properties. Recent results in the use of formulation variables, compatibilizers, and starch graft copolymers to optimize composite properties will be presented. The importance of granule properties such as moisture content, surface properties, and size on composite properties will also be discussed.