Thermoplastic starch polymers blends with poly

In the context of this chapter, the use of thermoplastic starch in blends with thermoplastic resins is of the main interest. As shown in Table 16.11, several blends have been developed, e.g., with vinyl alcohol copolymers (EVAl), polyolefins, aliphatic polyesters such as poly-e-caprolactone (PCL) and its copolymers, or polymers of glycols (e.g., 1,4-butanediol) with succinic, sebacic, adipic, azelaic, decanoic or brassihc acids, PCL + PVC. Compatibilization is possible by amylose/EVAl V-type complexes, starch grafted polyesters, chain extenders like diisocyanates, epoxies, etc. [Bastioli et al., 1992, 1993]. 

George, E., and Park, E. H., Thermoplastic Starch Blends with Poly(vinyl alcohol . Symposium on Engineered Polymer Blends IV Theory and Practice, Poytech. Univ., Jan 22, 1993. 

Yokesahadiart, C. and Yoksan, R. (2011) Effect of amphiphilic molecules on characteristics and tensile properties of thermoplastic starch and its blends with poly(lactic add). Carbohydr. Polym.,... 

George, E. R., Sullivan, T. M., Park, E. H. (1994). Thermoplastic starch blends with a poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) Processability and physical properties. Polymer Engineering and Science, 34, 17-23. 

Other effective plasticizers for starch for imparting melt processibility include a variety of low molecular weight compounds, such as glycerol and diethylene glycol, and also polymers such as poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) [55]. Furthermore, starch plasticized in that manner can be melt blended with minor amounts of hydrophobic thermoplastics, such as polyethylene and poly( methyl methacrylate), to obtain biodisintegratable molded articles with good mechanical properties. 

Another approach to biodegradability is to blend a biodegradable natural polymer with a thermoplastic synthetic pol5nner. Blends of starch with PE or with poly(vinyl alcohol) have been commercialized as packaging materials (176), although they have mainly been used in niche markets. Early materials were rather poor because the encapsulating effect of the PE on the starch protected it from water access, and, even if the starch was biodegraded, the PE was left... 

Ren, j., Ru, H., Ren, T., and Yuan, W. (2009) Preparation, characterization and properties of binary and ternary blends with thermoplastic starch, poly(lactic acid) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate). Carbohydrate Polymers, 77 576-582. 

The properties of PLA can be modified by polymer blending techniques. PLA has been blended with several synthetic and biopolymers in order to enhance its properties and to obtain novel materials. PLA has been blended with rubbers, thermoplastic starch (TPS), poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), poly(butylenes succinate adipate) (PBSA), poly(butylene... 

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