| Popis: |
During the last decades, various biodegradable materials from natural sources have been developed. One of the most promising materials with the highest commercial projection is thermoplastic starch. Thermoplastic starch is obtained utilizing a conventional thermomechanical process and in the presence of a plasticizer. However, pure thermoplastic starch has some deficiencies in its mechanical and barrier properties against water vapor, in addition to retrogradation. In this sense, it is necessary to use different strategies to improve it. Among the strategies, it is worth highlighting the blend with other biopolymers, physical and chemical modification of the starch, or the use of additives that improve the chemical compatibility of some polymer blends. Finally, the starch-based materials obtained have various applications in medicine, pharmacy, food packaging, and agriculture. |
