Abstract
Thermoplastic starch (TPS) was prepared by melt-mixing cassava starch with glycerol. Polyethylene (PE), polyethylene-grafted-maleic anhydride (PE-MAH) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) solutions at 2% (w/v) were used to coat TPS using the dip coating process. The tensile strength of TPS increased with the dip coating solution technique, especially for PLA coating. Swelling index, water-soluble matter and water droplet contact angle confirmed the water resistant improvement of TPS by PE-MAH and the PLA dip coating solution. Plasticizer bleeding was found in uncoated TPS after storage, but not in the coated TPS. Coating TPS with PE-MAH and PLA improved the tensile properties, water resistance and conquered plasticizer bleeding problems in TPS.
Highlights
Plastics are widely used around the world, such as in food packaging, agricultural, automobile and medical
Thermoplastic starch (TPS) is a bio-plastic material which is made from starch blending with a plasticizer such as water or glycerol [1]
This thermoplastic material made from natural raw materials is environmentally friendly, and can be decomposed naturally by microorganisms [2]
Summary
Plastics are widely used around the world, such as in food packaging, agricultural, automobile and medical. Thermoplastic starch (TPS) is a bio-plastic material which is made from starch blending with a plasticizer such as water or glycerol [1]. This thermoplastic material made from natural raw materials is environmentally friendly, and can be decomposed naturally by microorganisms [2]. The improvement of TPS properties by coating with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) [4], beeswax [5], chitosan [6,7,8], or plasma [9] has been reported. The solution for the plasticizer bleeding problem in TPS has not been reported
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