title: Enhancement of thermoplastic starch final properties by blending with poly(ɛ-caprolactone).
abstract: Final properties of two thermoplastic corn starch matrices were improved by adding poly(ɛ-caprolactone), PCL, at 2.5, 5, and 10% w/w. One of the thermoplastic starch matrices was processed using water and glycerol as plasticizers (SG) and the other one was plasticized with a mixture of glycerol and sodium alginate (SGA). Blends were suitably processed by melt mixing and further injected. Films obtained by thermo-compression were flexible and easy to handle. Microstructure studies (SEM and FTIR) revealed a nice distribution of PCL within both matrices and also a good starch-PCL compatibility, attributed to the lower polyester concentration. The crystalline character of PCL was the responsible of the increment in the degree of crystallinity of starch matrices, determined by XRD. Moreover, it was demonstrated by TGA that PCL incorporation did not affect the thermal stability of these starch-based materials. In addition, a shift of Tg values of both glycerol and starch-rich phases to lower values was determined by DSC and DMA tests, attributed to the PCL plasticizing action. Besides, PCL blocking effect to visible and UV radiations was evident by the incremented opacity and the UV-barrier capacity of the starch films. Finally, water vapor permeability and water solubility values were reduced by PCL incorporation.
authors.affiliation: Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química, PLAPIQUI (UNS-CONICET), Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Camino "La Carrindanga" Km 7, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina. Electronic address: mninago@plapiqui.edu.ar.
authors.forename: Mario D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ninago
authors.affiliation: Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química, PLAPIQUI (UNS-CONICET), Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Camino "La Carrindanga" Km 7, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
authors.forename: Olivia V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: López
authors.affiliation: Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química, PLAPIQUI (UNS-CONICET), Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Camino "La Carrindanga" Km 7, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
authors.forename: M M Soledad
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lencina
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos, CIDCA (UNLP-CONICET), 47 y 115, 1900 La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: María A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Av. Alem 1253, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
authors.forename: Noemí A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Andreucetti
authors.affiliation: Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química, PLAPIQUI (UNS-CONICET), Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Camino "La Carrindanga" Km 7, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
authors.forename: Andrés E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ciolino
authors.affiliation: Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química, PLAPIQUI (UNS-CONICET), Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Camino "La Carrindanga" Km 7, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
authors.forename: Marcelo A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Villar
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry; D003460:Crystallization; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D005990:Glycerol / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D010539:Permeability; D010968:Plasticizers / Q000737:chemistry; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D013213:Starch / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013227:Steam / Q000032:analysis; D013696:Temperature; D044366:Transition Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D010968:Plasticizers; D011091:Polyesters; D013227:Steam; D014867:Water; C016240:polycaprolactone; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D013213:Starch; D005990:Glycerol
keywords: Poly(ɛ-caprolactone); Structural and final properties; Thermal processing; Thermoplastic corn-starch