Processing?properties?applications relationship of nanocomposites based on thermoplastic corn starch and talc

LÓPEZ, OLIVIA; CASTILLO, LUCIANA E; BARBOSA, SILVIA ELENA; VILLAR, MARCELO; GARCÍA, MARIA ALEJANDRA

POLYMER COMPOSITES

JOHN WILEY & SONS INC

Lugar: New York; Año: 2016

0272-8397

Films based on thermoplastic corn starch (TPS) andtalc nanoparticles were developed by melt mixing andthermo-compression. Films structure, optical and bar-rier properties, as well as thermal stability and watersorption behavior were studied. TPS structure resultedhomogeneous and smooth. Talc laminar morphologyand thermo-compression induced particle preferentialorientation within the matrix. Good particle distributionand talc-TPS adhesion were evidenced. Nanometricthickness of mineral particles allowed obtaining trans-lucent composite films, without significant color varia-tion of TPS films. Talc addition at concentrationshigher than 3% w/w led to an improvement on TPSbarrier properties against water vapor and oxygen. Itwas also demonstrated that talc decreased wateruptake of TPS films exposed to ambient conditionswith relative humidity higher than 40%. In conclusion,films based on TPS and talc nanoparticles could be analternative to develop biodegradable packages for food products with suitable final properties.