PROCESSING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THERMOPLASTIC STARCH/POLYCAPROLACTONE BLENDS FOR PACKAGING APPLICATIONS

MARÍA PAULA GUARÁS; SILVANA ECHEVERRÍA; LEANDRO N. LUDUEÑA; VERA A. ALVAREZ

Nuremberg

Conferencia; 29th International Conference of the POLYMER PROCESSING SOCIETY; 2013

Films of thermoplastic starch (TPS)/polycaprolactone (PCL) blends were obtained by intensive mixing followed by compression molding. First, the best formulation of thermoplastic starch (starch, plasticizer and additives) was selected. The obtained films were characterized by means of differential scanning calorimetry, DSC (melting temperature and crystallinity degree); thermogravimetric analysis, TGA (real composition of the blend and thermal stability); tensile tests (mechanical properties); infrared spectroscopy, FTIR (interactions between components); scanning electron microscopy, SEM (morphology); and water absorption tests. The effect of TPS/PCL ratio on the previously mentioned characteristics and properties were studied. In addition, the effect using PCL modified with maleic anhydride as compatibilizer was also analyzed. It was observed that the incorporation of TPS to the PCL matrix produced an enhancement of the Young´s modulus. On the other hand, the addition of the compatibilizer improved not only the Young´s modulus but also the water absorption of the blends, which is useful for packaging applications. These results were attributed to the smaller TPS phase size shown by SEM, which was a consequence of the improved PCL/TPS compatibility. An optimal compatibilizer content was found for each TPS formulation analyzed.