Processing and characterization of polyols plasticized-starch reinforced with microcrystalline cellulose

Published Date
20 September 2016, Vol.149:83–93, doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.04.087

Title 
Processing and characterization of polyols plasticized-starch reinforced with microcrystalline cellulose

• Author 

• M. Rico ^a,,
• S. Rodríguez-Llamazares ^b
• L. Barral ^a
• R. Bouza ^a
• B. Montero ^a

• aGrupo de Polímeros, Departamento de Física, Universidade da Coruña, Escuela Universitaria Politécnica, Campus de Ferrol, Avda. 19 de Febrero s/n, 15405 Ferrol, Spain
• bCentro de Investigación de Polímeros Avanzados (CIPA), Edificio Laboratorio CIPA, Av. Collao 1202, Concepción, Chile

Received 22 January 2016. Revised 19 April 2016. Accepted 21 April 2016. Available online 23 April 2016.

Highlights

• •
  Wheat starch plasticized with polyols of different molecular weight were obtained.
• •
  Biocomposites of TPS were reinforced with microcrystalline cellulose.
• •
  Addition of MC enhanced the mechanical properties and water resistance of TPS.
• •
  Sorbitol led to TPS with improved thermal stability, water resistance and stiffness.
• •
  Viscosity of blend during processing increased with MC filler and sorbitol content.

Abstract

Biocomposites suitable for short-life applications such as food packaging were prepared by melt processing and investigated. Biocomposites studied are wheat starch plasticized with two different molecular weight polyols (glycerol and sorbitol) and reinforced with various amounts of microcrystalline cellulose. The effect of the plasticizer type and the filler amount on the processing properties, the crystallization behavior and morphology developed for the materials, and the influence on thermal stability, dynamic mechanical properties and water absorption behavior were investigated. Addition of microcrystalline cellulose led to composites with good filler-matrix adhesion where the stiffness and resistance to humidity absorption were improved. The use of sorbitol as a plasticizer of starch also improved the stiffness and water uptake behavior of the material as well as its thermal stability. Biodegradable starch-based materials with a wide variety of properties can be tailored by varying the polyol plasticizer type and/or by adding microcrystalline cellulose filler.

Keywords

• Thermoplastic starch
• Biocomposite
• Glycerol
• Sorbitol
• Microcrystalline cellulose

---

 Table 1

Table 1.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3.

 Table 2

Table 2.

Fig. 4.

Fig. 5.

 Table 3

Table 3.

Fig. 6.

Fig. 7.

• ⁎ 
  Corresponding author.

For further details log on website :

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0144861716304647