Characterization of Thermoplastic Starch Plasticized with Ternary Urea-Polyols Deep Eutectic Solvent with Two Selected Fillers: Microcrystalline Cellulose and Montmorillonite

Abstract

The aim of the study was to prepare and characterize composite materials based on thermoplastic starch (TPS)/deep eutectic solvent (DES). Potato starch was plasticized with ternary DES: urea:glycerol:sorbitol and modified with the selected fillers: microcrystalline cellulose and sodium montmorillonite. Films were prepared via twin-screw extrusion and thermocompression of the extrudates. Then, the physicochemical properties of the TPS films were examined. The ternary DES effectively plasticized the polysaccharide leading to a highly amorphous structure of the TPS (confirmed via mechanical tests, DMTA and XRD analyses). An investigation of the behavior in water (swelling and dissolution degree) and water vapor transmission rate of the films was determined. The introduction of the two types of fillers resulted in higher tensile strength and better barrier properties of the composite TPS films. However, montmorillonite addition exhibited a higher impact than microcrystalline cellulose. Moreover, a cone calorimetry analysis of the TPS materials revealed that they showed better fire-retardant properties than TPS plasticized with a conventional plasticizer (glycerol).

Study on Physicochemical Properties of Biocomposite Films with Spent Coffee Grounds as a Filler and Their Influence on Physiological State of Growing Plants

“…For the DMTA results, the storage modulus (E') and tan delta curves are depicted in Figure 2. The storage moduli (E') for the films rapidly decreased with the increase in temperature, and the values were low at elevated temperatures, indicating their ability for further thermoprocessing [25][26][27]. Comparing the two types of plasticizers, the drop in the E' parameter is more prominent for CCU.…”

“…The temperature values of α-peak for both types of plasticizers are as follows: TPS/DES+cf < TPS/DES < TPS/DES/cf. Lower temperature for TPS/DES+cf may be related to cf modification with DES during the preheating and ex- The storage moduli (E ) for the films rapidly decreased with the increase in temperature, and the values were low at elevated temperatures, indicating their ability for further thermoprocessing [25][26][27]. Comparing the two types of plasticizers, the drop in the E parameter is more prominent for CCU.…”

“…In this work, for the first time, TPS materials plasticized with DES enriched with urea with the presence of spent coffee grounds as a filler are presented. It is worth mentioning that there are only a few works presenting studies on extruded TPS/DES/fillers [25][26][27], so the work brings some development in this field.…”

Preparation of high‐performance poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate)/thermoplastic starch compounds with epoxidized soybean oil as compatibilizer

“…After adding ESO, the crystallinity of the compound was increased to around 21%. New peaks at 2θ at 13.4° and 19.8° were evident upon addition of TPS; the peaks are due to the rapid crystallization of straight chain starch and glycerol complexed to form a single helix crystal structure during processing 30 …”

“…New peaks at 2θ at 13.4 and 19.8 were evident upon addition of TPS; the peaks are due to the rapid crystallization of straight chain starch and glycerol complexed to form a single helix crystal structure during processing. 30 Crystallization properties of PBAT and its complexes were further investigated by DSC with corresponding degradation temperatures in Table 2. TPS increased the crystallization temperature (Tc) of PBAT from 38.3 C to 78.5 C due to the starch granules acting as nucleating agents in PBAT.…”