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Starch is natural biopolymers with diversified applications as a biodegradable material which is a suitable alternative of non‐biodegradable and non‐renewable materials. The use of nanofiller as reinforcement results in considerable improvement in various properties of starch. Herein, nano calcium carbonate (CaCO3) designed starch bionanocomposites are prepared by solution technique. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction are used for study of structural interaction of nano calcium carbonate with starch. The morphology of starch/CaCO3 bionanocomposites is investigated by high resolution transmission electron microscope. The thermal stability of starch is increased substantially due to incorporation of stable calcium carbonate nano powder. It is found that the 40% of residual mass was left at 800°C with a loading of 8 wt% of CaCO3. The oxygen permeability of starch/CaCO3 bionanocomposites is decreased by three times as compared to the virgin starch. Their biodegradability and chemical resistance properties are investigated. The tensile strength of starch/CaCO3 bionanocomposites is also improved with incorporation of nano CaCO3. The prepared bionanocomposites with substantial reduction in oxygen barrier properties in combination with increased thermal stability, tensile strength, and chemical resistance properties can be suitable materials for packaging applications. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E82–E89, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers

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Starch bionanocomposites are prepared by reinforcement of chemically modified expanded graphite (EG) powder. The interaction of EG with starch is studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) whereas; the structural behavior is investigated by X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The starch/expanded graphite (starch/EG) bionanocomposites are characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) study. The thermal stability of starch is enhanced tremendously with incorporation of EG. An increase in conductivity is observed due to the increase in EG concentrations. The bionanocomposites are resistant towards acid and alkali with little sacrifice in biodegradability. A substantial reduction in permeability is observed due to dispersion of graphite platelets. The combining properties of thermal and chemical resistant along with the gas barrier behavior of starch bionanocomposites may enable the material for packaging applications. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:2083–2091, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers