Properties of Starch Blends with Biodegradable Polymers

TLDR

Starch is an inexpensive, readily available natural polymer that can be processed into thermoplastic materials only with plasticizers, heat, and shear; its poor water resistance and low strength limit its use, so it is often blended with aliphatic polyesters. The review shows that starch–polyester blends have controllable biodegradation rates and mechanical properties comparable to polyethylene and polystyrene, and reduced humidity sensitivity, making them suitable for biodegradable films, injection‑molded items, and foams. Keywords: Starch, aliphatic polyester, blend, biodegradable; acknowledgments: supported by the Excellent Talent Program and Young Teachers Program of the Ministry of Education of China.

Abstract

Abstract Starch, one of the most inexpensive and most readily available of all natural polymers, can be processed into thermoplastic materials only in the presence of plasticizers and under the action of heat and shear. Poor water resistance and low strength are limiting factors for the use of materials manufactured only from starch, and hence the modification of starch is often achieved by blending aliphatic polyesters. In this review, the literatures concerning the properties of various blends of starch and aliphatic polyesters have been summarized. The biodegradable rates of blends can be controlled to a certain extent depending on the constitutions of blends, and the mechanical properties of blends are close to those of traditional plastics such as polyethylene and polystyrene. The reduction of their sensitivity to humidity makes these materials suitable for the production of biodegradable films, injection-molded items, and foams. Keywords: StarchAliphatic polysterBlendBiodegradable Acknowledgments This work was supported by the Excellent Talent Program and Young Teachers Program of the Ministry of Education of China.