Latex/starch nanocrystal (SNC) nanocomposite dispersions were successfully synthesized via a one-step surfactant-free Pickering emulsion polymerization route using SNC as the sole stabilizer. The effect of the SNC content, initiator type and comonomer on the particle size, colloidal stability, and film properties were investigated. Both HCl and H2SO4-hydrolysed starch nanocrystals, each bearing different surface charges, were used as Pickering emulsion stabilizing nanoparticles. SNCs from HCl hydrolysis were found to provide a better stabilization effect, giving rise to a polymer dispersion with a lower average particle size. The mechanistic aspects of the Pickering emulsion polymerization were also discussed. Nanocomposites formed by film-casting the polymer Pickering emulsions showed better mechanical properties and optical transparency than those obtained by blending the polymer emulsion with a nanocrystal dispersion, showing the one-pot route to nanocomposite precursors to be doubly advantageous. Therefore, this in situ polymerization technique not only facilitates the use of SNC nanoparticles, it also provides a valuable nanocomposite with enhanced mechanical properties and high transparency level.

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A facile and effective method for the Pickering emulsion polymerization of acrylate monomer is reported, using SNPs as the sole stabilizer. The SNPs were produced via ultrasonication in water without any chemical additives.

In this paper, the disintegration of starch (waxy and standard starch) granules into nanosized particles under the sole effect of high power ultrasonication treatment in water/isopropanol is investigated, by using wide methods of analysis. The present work aims at a fully characterization of the starch nanoparticles produced by ultrasonication, in terms of size, morphology and structural properties, and the proposition of a possible mechanism explaining the top-down generation of starch nanoparticles (SNPs) via high intensity ultrasonication. Dynamic light scattering measurements have indicated a leveling of the particle size to about 40nm after 75min of ultrasonication. The WAXD, DSC and Raman have revealed the amorphous character of the SNPs. FE-SEM. AFM observations have confirmed the size measured by DLS and suggested that SNPs exhibited 2D morphology of platelet-like shapes. This morphology is further supported by SAXS. On the basis of data collected from the different characterization techniques, a possible mechanism explaining the disintegration process of starch granules into NPs is proposed.

The morphological, structural and thermal behavior of starch nanocrystals (SNCs) extracted from waxy maize starch through an acid hydrolysis were compared with those of starch nanoparticles (SNPs) obtained through an ultrasound treatment starting from the same waxy maize starch. The SNPs were found to be completely amorphous, slightly smaller and had no surface charge, whereas the SNCs had the expected platelet-like morphology with a negative surface charge introduced as a result of the use of sulphuric acid in the acid hydrolysis step. SNCs also showed better thermal stability than SNPs in the presence of water. As a result of their platelet-like morphology, the SNCs performed better in reinforcing a polymer film. On the other hand, SNPs reduced the transparency of the nanocomposite films to a lesser extent than the SNCs due to their smaller size.