title: Starch nanocrystals and starch nanoparticles from waxy maize as nanoreinforcement: A comparative study.
abstract: The morphological, structural and thermal behavior of starch nanocrystals (SNCs) extracted from waxy maize starch through an acid hydrolysis were compared with those of starch nanoparticles (SNPs) obtained through an ultrasound treatment starting from the same waxy maize starch. The SNPs were found to be completely amorphous, slightly smaller and had no surface charge, whereas the SNCs had the expected platelet-like morphology with a negative surface charge introduced as a result of the use of sulphuric acid in the acid hydrolysis step. SNCs also showed better thermal stability than SNPs in the presence of water. As a result of their platelet-like morphology, the SNCs performed better in reinforcing a polymer film. On the other hand, SNPs reduced the transparency of the nanocomposite films to a lesser extent than the SNCs due to their smaller size.
authors.affiliation: University of Sfax - Sfax Faculty of Science-LMSE, BP 802, 3018 Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Sihem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bel Haaj
authors.affiliation: Renewable Materials and Nanotechnology Research Group, KU Leuven, Campus Kortrijk, Etienne Sabbelaan 53, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Thielemans
authors.affiliation: Université Grenoble Alpes, LRP, F-38000 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magnin
authors.affiliation: University of Sfax - Sfax Faculty of Science-LMSE, BP 802, 3018 Sfax, Tunisia. Electronic address: Sami.Boufi@fss.rnu.tn.
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boufi
mesh_terms: D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D010316:Particle Size; D013213:Starch / Q000737:chemistry*; D014783:Viscosity; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002482:Cellulose; D013213:Starch
keywords: Nanocomposite; Nanoreinforcement; Starch nanocrystals; Starch nanoparticles