Abstract
This research focused on the development of biomaterials based on cassava starch and corn starch and on the effect of the incorporation of polycaprolactone (PCL) on the thermal and thermomechanical properties of the blends. The results indicated partial compatibility in the blends, especially with cassava starch at a content of 20 wt% as reflected by the maintenance of tensile strength and elongation. In addition, the changes in the crystal quality of PCL and the displacement of the absorption bands of the carbonyl groups of PCL in the infrared (989–1000 cm−1), attributed to the formation of hydrogen bonds between these groups and the hydroxyl groups of starches, were also associated with compatibility. It was observed that the crystallinity of PLC in the presence of cassava and corn starch was 38% and 62%, respectively; a crystallinity greater than that of PCL was related to an improved nucleation at the interface. Based on these properties, the blends are expected to be functional for the manufacture of short-term use products by conventional thermoplastic processing methods.
Highlights
Plastics derived from petroleum have contributed to increasing the comfort of people’s everyday lives due to the notable versatility of properties that allows for the manufacturing of an infinite number of products
With the growing need to take care of the environment and to find alternative materials that are more ecological for manufacturing short-term use products, research and development in biodegradable and bioplastic polymers has emerged [2]
The development of spoons made with biodegradable materials from seed flour, xanthan gum, and palm oil was performed as an alternative to the use of plastic cutlery [5]
Summary
Plastics derived from petroleum have contributed to increasing the comfort of people’s everyday lives due to the notable versatility of properties that allows for the manufacturing of an infinite number of products. For a TPS plasticized with glycerol, it is possible to increase the blend’s hydrophobicity by incorporating PCL [24]. These types of blends have been studied for the improvement of their mechanical and thermal properties [13]. Cassava starch and PCL films, in the presence of an antioxidant, showed that the thermal properties of TPS were affected, which was interpreted as partial compatibility between polymers; tensile stress was reduced by 6% with the incorporation of PCL [25]. We investigated whether the type of starch (i.e., corn or cassava) influenced the generation of the best interaction towards a blend with improved properties without the use of coupling agents. It is important to highlight that conventional plastics transformation processes allow for exploring the possible applications of biomaterials to promote the use of ecological plastics, for example, in disposable plates and single-use cutlery
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