Rapid production of corn starch gels with high mechanical properties through alcohol soaking

In the presented paper, diethanol amine is employed to plasticize corn starch, and plasticized starch is incorporated into polypropylene to create semibio-based composites with the aid of compatibilizer, maleic anhydride-grafted PP (PPMA). Compared with PP/starch blend, the presence of diethanol amine changes the morphology and increases the plasticity of starch due to the reduction effect of intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions. Adding PPMA could reduce the dispersed size of starch granules in the polymer matrix due to in situ reactive compatibilization. Addition of 30 wt% PPMA decreases the starch granules size from ~10 μm to ~5 μm, and increases the tensile strength from 16 MPa for PP/plasticized starch to 30 MPa, increased by 87.5%. Thus, as-created bio-composites with improved mechanical properties will find many potential applications such as packaging.

Download Full-text

Effect of Co60γ Ray Irradiation on Thermoplastic Corn Starch Plastic

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.772.34 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 772 ◽

pp. 34-37

Author(s):

Hao Tang ◽

Hai Tian Jiang ◽

Bin Guo ◽

Pan Xin Li

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Tensile Strength ◽

Corn Starch ◽

Irradiation Time ◽

Thermoplastic Starch ◽

Endothermic Peak ◽

Macromolecular Structure ◽

Thermal And Mechanical Properties ◽

Elongation At Break ◽

Γ Ray

Corn starch was irradiated by 60Coγ ray, and then the thermoplastic starch plastic (TPS) was prepared by adding glycerol. Microstructure, thermal and mechanical properties of the corn starch and starch plastic were studied in details by FTIR, DSC and SEM. Results showed that the starch macromolecular structure was damaged by irradiation, and with increased irradiation time, the temperature of melt endothermic peak and tensile strength decreased, elongation at break increases for starch plastic, the thermoplastic property of starch was enhanced obviously.

Download Full-text

Effects of Micropores on Processing and Properties of Porous Irons

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.863.26 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 863 ◽

pp. 26-32

Author(s):

Ming Zhou Su ◽

Hui Meng Wang ◽

Chang Chen

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Particle Size ◽

Corn Starch ◽

Sintering Temperature ◽

Starch Content ◽

Volumetric Shrinkage ◽

Small Particle Size ◽

Compressive Properties ◽

Different Temperatures ◽

Powder Metallurgy Route

Porous irons with only micropores were produced through powder metallurgy route. Corn starch of small particle size (5-15μm) was utilized to regulate the densification of green compacts. The structural and mechanical properties of porous irons sintered at different temperatures were evaluated. The porosities increased with increasing the starch content, which reduced compressive strength and increased volumetric shrinkage. The compressive yield stress increased with increasing sintering temperature. It was also found that the effect of sintering temperature on the microstructure and compressive properties was more obvious when green compacts were less densified. Moreover, volumetric shrinkage of porous irons without adding starch remains in a quite low level for different sintering temperatures.

Download Full-text