A novel approach to grafting polymerization of ε-caprolactone onto starch granules

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers Vol. 60; no. 1; pp. 103 - 109
• Main Authors: Chen, Li, Ni, Yushan, Bian, Xinchao, Qiu, Xueyu, Zhuang, Xiuli, Chen, Xuesi, Jing, Xiabin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2005; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; biodegradable products; chemical structure; composite polymers; Exact sciences and technology; Grafting polymerization; mechanical properties; Natural polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Ring-opening polymerization; Starch; Starch and polysaccharides; starch products; ultrastructure; ε-Caprolactone; Ring-opening polymerization; ε-Caprolactone; Grafting polymerization; Starch; Bulk polymerization; Chemical resistance; Tin compound; Mechanical properties; Starch graft copolymer; Experimental study; Corn starch; Grafting; Optimization; Operating conditions; Starch granule; Caprolactone copolymer; Morphology; s-Caprolactone; Oside polymer; Liquid solid reaction; Suspension polymerization
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2004.11.028

A new biodegradable starch graft-copolymer, starch- g-poly(ε-caprolatone) (St- g-PCL), was synthesized in situ by the ring-opening graft-polymerization of a ε-caprolactone (CL) monomer onto starch granules in the presence of Sn(Oct) 2. The polymerization was carried out in three different polymerization methods: in bulk, in toluene suspension or in suspension/bulk polymerization, where a suspension/bulk process resulted in highest PCL grafting efficiency in 40 wt%. The structure of St- g-PCL was characterized by IR, DSC, SEM and WAXD. Both of the CL monomer and amylose corn starch were of industrial grade, without further purifications. The medium-resistance of St- g-PCL and the mechanical properties of the PCL composite blending with St- g-PCL were better than that of the PCL/starch blending composite.