Reinforcement of Thermoplastic Corn Starch with Crosslinked Starch/Chitosan Microparticles

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2018-09-04

Authors

Diana Paiva (Author) FEUP; André M. Pereira (Author) FCUP; Ana L. Pires (Author) FCUP; Jorge Martins (Author) FEUP; Luísa H. Carvalho (Author) FEUP; Fernão D. Magalhães (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Polymers

Vol. 10 No. 9

Pages: 1-14

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 18 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 28 Citations

INSPEC

Associated Projects

LEPABE - Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente, Biotecnologia e Energia

LEPABE-2-ECO-INNOVATION - LEPABE-2-ECO-INNOVATION

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00P-JEV

DOI: 10.3390/polym10090985

Abstract (EN): <jats:p>Microparticles of corn starch and chitosan crosslinked with glutaraldehyde, produced by the solvent exchange technique, are studied as reinforcement fillers for thermoplastic corn starch plasticized with glycerol. The presence of 10% w/w chitosan in the microparticles is shown to be essential to guaranteeing effective crosslinking, as demonstrated by water solubility assays. Crosslinked chitosan forms an interpenetrating polymer network with starch chains, producing microparticles with a very low solubility. The thermal stability of the microparticles is in agreement with their polysaccharide composition. An XRD analysis showed that they have crystalline fraction of 32% with Va-type structure, and have no tendency to undergo retrogradation. The tensile strength, Young¿s modulus, and toughness of thermoplastic starch increased by the incorporation of the crosslinked starch/chitosan microparticles by melt-mixing. Toughness increased 360% in relation to unfilled thermoplastic starch.</jats:p>

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14