Effects of Modified Thermoplastic Starch on Crystallization Kinetics and Barrier Properties of PLA

• DOI: 10.3390/polym13234125
• Publication Date: 2021-12-01T07:34:05Z
• Authors: Apoorva Kulkarni; Ramani Narayan
• Keywords: Reactive extrusion

This study reports on using reactive extrusion (REX) modified thermoplastic starch particles as a bio-based and biodegradable nucleating agent to increase the rate of crystallization, percent crystallinity improve oxygen barrier properties while maintaining biodegradability PLA. Reactive blends maleated (MTPS) PLA were prepared ZSK-30 twin-screw extruder; 80% glycerol was grafted during preparation MTPS determined by soxhlet extraction with acetone. The found from 7.7% 28.6% 5% MTPS. crystallization temperature reduced 113 °C 103 °C. Avrami analysis showed that increased 98-fold t1/2 drastically 20 min <1 addition compared neat Observation POM confirmed presence in matrix significantly formation density spherulites. Oxygen water vapor permeabilities solvent-casted PLA/MTPS films 33 19% respectively over without causing any detrimental impacts mechanical (α = 0.05). did not impact biodegradation an aqueous environment.