Effect of thermoplastic starch/poly(lactic acid) weight fraction on phase morphology and performance of biodegradable blends and their jute fiber composites.

The present work investigates the phase morphology and properties of biodegradable thermoplastic starch (TPS)-poly(lactic acid) (PLA) blends and their jute fiber (JF) biocomposites. The TPS/PLA blends and TPS/PLA/JF composites were fabricated using a twin-screw extruder and then injection molded into the test specimens, varying the TPS/PLA weight fractions (80/20, 60/40, 40/60, and 20/80) while keeping the JF content constant (10 wt%). At 80 wt% TPS, the TPS/PLA blend showed a co-continuous structure, whereas the remaining blends (20, 40, and 60 wt% TPS) exhibited a TPS droplets-PLA matrix structure.

Injection-molded thermoplastic cassava starch modified with single and mixed polyol plasticizers.

Increasing interest in biodegradable and cost-effective materials derived from renewable resources has led to the development of injection-moldable thermoplastic starch (TPS). Plasticizers constitute an indispensable additive for manufacturing TPS, influencing both its thermomechanical processability and performance. The aim of the current work is thus to study the effect of single and mixed polyol plasticizers on the performance of injection-molded TPS.

Effect of gamma ray dose on granular and molecular structures of gamma ray-irradiated cassava starch and its application in bioplastics.

In this study, the effect of gamma ray irradiation on the granular and molecular structures of cassava starch was examined. Cassava starch was irradiated with various gamma ray doses of 25, 50, 75, and 100 kGy. After irradiation, the starch turned yellow, but its granular morphological characteristics remained intact.

Vitexin-loaded poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether-grafted chitosan/alginate nanoparticles: preparation, physicochemical properties and in vitro release behaviors.

Background: Vitexin, a flavonoid in various foods and medicinal plants, has potential clinical, therapeutic and food applications due to its bioactive properties and beneficial health effects. However, its poor water solubility causes low oral bioavailability and poor absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, limiting its practical applications. Encapsulation is an efficient approach to overcome these limitations.

Property improvement of a thermoplastic starch/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) blown film by the addition of sodium nitrite.

Recently, global awareness of the adverse environmental impacts of single-use plastics has risen due to their nonbiodegradability and likelihood of ending up in the ocean. Thermoplastic starch (TPS) is an alternative material employed for manufacturing single-use products because of its high biodegradability, nontoxicity, and low cost. However, TPS is moisture sensitive and has poor mechanical properties and processability.