On the Use of Starch in Emulsion Polymerizations

Abstract

The substitution of petroleum-based synthetic polymers in latex formulations with sustainable and/or bio-based sources has increasingly been a focus of both academic and industrial research. Emulsion polymerization already provides a more sustainable way to produce polymers for coatings and adhesives, because it is a water-based process. It can be made even more attractive as a green alternative with the addition of starch, a renewable material that has proven to be extremely useful as a filler, stabilizer, property modifier and macromer. This work provides a critical review of attempts to modify and incorporate various types of starch in emulsion polymerizations. This review focusses on the method of initiation, grafting mechanisms, starch feeding strategies and the characterization methods. It provides a needed guide for those looking to modify starch in an emulsion polymerization to achieve a target grafting performance or to incorporate starch in latex formulations for the replacement of synthetic polymers.

Hydroxymethylation-Modified Lignin and Its Effectiveness as a Filler in Rubber Composites

“…Among commercial fillers, carbon black and silica are the most widely used in the rubber industry. Several studies have reported the substitution of these fillers with other alternative fillers, such as carbon nanotubes, cellulose, protein, starch, and clays [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Recently, fillers from renewable resources have been widely used in order to replace commercially available fillers due to their sustainability and biodegradability and have been effectively used to improve the mechanical properties of rubber composite.…”

Sustainable polymer reaction engineering: Are we there yet?

“…There are many categories of renewable feedstock that have been discovered as alternatives in polymer production. Some examples include: (a) terpenes, which are natural compounds produced by some insects and derived from conifers and citrus fruits [ 65 ] ; (b) vegetable oils (eg, corn oil, soybean oil, olive oil), which are mixtures of triglycerides with various fatty acid chains that can be converted to fatty acids (or esters) and glycerol [ 66 ] ; (c) sugars, which are soluble carbohydrates commonly extracted from fruits, sugar beets, and sugarcane [ 67 ] ; (d) starch, which is a polysaccharide consisting of two macromolecules (linear amylose and branched amylopectin) found in many plants such as rice, potato, and wheat [ 68 ] ; (d) lignin, which is an important biopolymer existing as support tissue in wood and algae [ 69 ] ; and (e) cellulose, which contains a linear chain of β(1 → 4) linked D‐glucose units and can be found in many green plants, fungi, and algae. [ 70 ]…”

Maltodextrin as stabilizer for emulsion polymerization: Adsorption and grafting behavior

“…A few contributions only appeared in the literature studying polymerization in the presence of polysaccharides as well as their role as stabilizers. [ 14 ] Chen et al proved the possibility to get physical incorporation of ethyl cellulose into hydrophobic polymer latexes. [ 15 ] Specifically, the release to the continuous phase of the hydrophilic polysaccharides from particles made of butyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate was fully prevented by crosslinking the polymer through a di‐functional monomer (triethylene glycol dimethacrylate).…”