Novel Thermoplastic Materials Based on the Outer-Shell Oxypropylation of Corn Starch Granules

• Published in: Biomacromolecules Vol. 8; no. 7; pp. 2047 - 2050
• Main Authors: de Menezes, A. J, Pasquini, D, Curvelo, A. A. S, Gandini, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 01.07.2007
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Natural polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Starch - chemistry; Starch - ultrastructure; Starch and polysaccharides; X-Ray Diffraction; Surface reaction; Experimental study; Corn starch; Etherification; Thermal stability; Chemical modification; Wettability; Morphology; Preparation; Oxirane(methyl); Surface properties; Oside polymer; Liquid solid reaction; Starch derivative; Plasticization; Surface energy
• ISSN: 1525-7797; 1526-4602
• DOI: 10.1021/bm070389j

The study of the plasticization of corn-starch granules through the bulk oxypropylation of their outer shell produced a novel biphasic material consisting of a low glass transition temperature component surrounding the granules' inner core, which could be hot pressed to form films of the granules dispersed into a thermoplastic matrix. The success and extent of these chemical modifications and the properties of the ensuing composites were assessed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and contact angle measurements. This approach has the additional advantage of being simple and “green”.