Recent Advances in Thermoplastic Starch Biodegradable Nanocomposites

Abstract

The use of polymers capable of being degraded by the action of microorganisms and/or enzymes without causing harmful effects is a strategy in the management of waste and environmental care. Agro-polymers have begun to play a significant role among researchers and industry, since it has been found that these materials are Biodegradable and eco-friendly. Starch is a polymer belonging to the group of polysaccharides, which is produced by almost all plants using it as energy storage. Depending on the botanical origin of the plant, starch granules can have different shapes (spheres, platelets, polygonal) and size (from 0.5 to 175 μm). Its chemical composition consists of two components: amylose, composed of 1,4-α-D bonds of glucose in straight chains, and amylopectin, in which the glucose chains are highly branched. Starch is a naturally renewable

Synthetic Degradable Polyvinyl Alcohol Polymer and Its Blends with Starch and Cellulose—A Comprehensive Overview

“…Using the right plasticizer, starch can be heated up to create thermoplastic starch. However, because of their stiffness, brittleness, and poor mechanical and thermal properties, films made entirely of starch are not appropriate for packing purposes [60].…”

A second life for fruit and vegetable waste: a review on bioplastic films and coatings for potential food protection applications

“…39 Starch has been widely used for the preparation of thermoplastic materials by combining it with a plasticizing agent. 40,41 Thus, plant residues rich in this polymer have a high potential for processing as conventional thermoplastic polymers.…”

Increasing the Efficiency of Multilayered Silicate Melt Incorporation into Starch-Based Polymeric Matrices

“…Regarding the nanocomposites based on starch, polyvinyl alcohol, and layered silicate, several studies were carried out to identify the dependence of the morphology and thermal properties on the type of layered silicate to find the most efficient functional group with which the silicate galleries can be treated [27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]. Other studies have focused on the silicate incorporation method into the polymer blends [37], the target filling content [38][39][40][41][42], the dependence of the degree of miscibility on the type of components of the layered silicate mixtures, or the influence of the miscibility degree on the surface defects [43][44][45]. It was observed that the intercalation degree into a starch-PVOH matrix increased if natural multilayered silicate (NaMMT) or NaMMT functionalized with small-volume ammonium ions (Nanocor I 28) were used.…”

“…It was observed that the intercalation degree into a starch-PVOH matrix increased if natural multilayered silicate (NaMMT) or NaMMT functionalized with small-volume ammonium ions (Nanocor I 28) were used. Nanostructured or micro-structured composites can be obtained using this approach [35,36,[38][39][40][41][42]. The incorporation of NaMMT into such matrices during melt compounding without any other treatment [38][39][40][41][42] or by subjecting the layered silicate to a minor mechanical treatment before incorporation into the melts [37,46] was previously studied, but the results were not optimal.…”

“…Nanostructured or micro-structured composites can be obtained using this approach [35,36,[38][39][40][41][42]. The incorporation of NaMMT into such matrices during melt compounding without any other treatment [38][39][40][41][42] or by subjecting the layered silicate to a minor mechanical treatment before incorporation into the melts [37,46] was previously studied, but the results were not optimal. That is why finding a more effective dispersion method for the melt compounding of layered silicates into a starch-PVOH matrix is of both scientific and practical relevance.…”