Rheological Characterization of Thermoplastic Starch Materials

Abstract

The rheological characterization of thermoplastic starches (TPS) by using a capillary rheometer includes the research of their flow properties depending on compounding parameters, on types and contents of incorporated additives, as well as on melt temperatures. Based on extensive experimental studies, the viscosity functions of glycerol destructurized TPS types can be described analytically by the definition of a new combined shift factor, which considers the influence of both melt temperature and additive amount. Wall-slip effects due to specific TPS formulations were quantified by the application of a modified Mooney procedure.