Starch is a biopolymer with enormous potential for generating new biodegradable packages due to its easy availability and low cost. However, due to its weak functional properties, limitation of its interaction with some hydroxyl groups and evaluation of blends with other polymers are necessary in order to improve its performance. Glycerol-plasticized acetylated corn starch films were developed using the casting method, and the impact of incorporating chitosan (TPS:CH) in various proportions (75:25, 50:50, and 25:75 v/v) was studied in the present research. The effect of chitosan ratios on the physical, mechanical, water-vapor barrier, and thermal properties of the film was studied. Chitosan-protonated amino groups promoted the formation of intermolecular bonds, improving tensile strength, thermal stability, hydrophobicity, water adsorption capacity, and the gas barrier of starch films. The results show that the film composed of TPS25-CH75 proved to be the best barrier to water vapor; thus, these composite films are excellent choices for developing biodegradable packaging for the food industry.
The rheological properties of three different microstructures of hydrophobically modified alkalisoluble polymers (telechelic, multisticker and combined) in the presence of various concentrations of anionic surfactant and salt (NaCl) were investigated. Associative polymers containing both ionic sites and small number of hydrophobic groups were obtained, and their thickening properties in aqueous solutions, were investigated. Solution polymerization was used for obtaining the different polymers. Relationships between hydrophobe, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and NaCl concentration are proposed. Owing to the competition between attractive hydrophobic interaction and repulsive electrostatic interactions, such hydrophobically modified polymers exhibit various rheological behaviors in aqueous solutions, depending on microstructure of polyelectrolyte, SDS and NaCl concentrations.
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