Biodegradable Starch Nanocomposites

GARCIA NANCY; FAMA LUCIA,; DACCORSO, NORMA; GOYANES SILVIA

Eco-friendly Polymer Nanocomposites. Volume 75 of the series Advanced Structured Materials

Springer Publisher

Año: 2015; p. 17 - 77

Biodegradable thermoplastic materials offer great potential to be used in food packaging or biomedical industry. In this chapter we will present a review of the research done on starch and starch nanocomposites. In the case of nanocomposites based on starch, special attention will be given to the influence of starch nanoparticles, cellulose whiskers, zinc oxide nanorods, antioxidants, and antimicrobial inclusion on the physicochemical properties of the materials. The discussion will be focused on structural, mechanical and barrel properties as well as on degradation, antibacterial and antioxidant activity. Finally, we will discuss our perspectives on how future research should be oriented to contribute in the substitution of synthetic materials with new eco-nanocomposites.