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The Effect of Polymeric Chain Extenders on Physical Properties of Thermoplastic Starch and Polylactic Acid Blends

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Abstract

The effects of a polymeric chain extender on the properties of bioplastic film made from blends of plasticized polylactic acid (p-PLA) and thermoplastic starch (TPS) were studied. Joncryl™ ADR 4370S, a polymeric chain extender, was blended with TPS and p-PLA at a level of 1% (w/w). A co-rotating twin-screw extrusion process was used to prepare films with various ratios of TPS and p-PLA. Mechanical and physical properties of films, including film tensile properties, surface energy, moisture content, hydrophilicity, moisture sorption behaviour and thermal mechanical properties were determined. During extrusion, films enhanced by 1% Joncryl addition demonstrated more desirable and consistent qualities, such as smoother film edge and surface. Addition of Joncryl significantly improved film tensile strength, 0.2% offset yield strength, and elongation, especially evident with the 250% elongation of 70/30 (TPS/p-PLA) film. Total surface energy of films was not significantly influenced by addition of Joncryl. However, the polar contribution to the total surface energy of 70/30 (TPS/p-PLA) film increased after the addition of Joncryl. The study showed that blending TPS with p-PLA transformed TPS film from being highly hydrophilic to highly hydrophobic. On the other hand, addition of Joncryl had limited effects on moisture content, water solubility, glass transition temperature and moisture sorption behaviour of TPS/p-PLA blend films.

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Acknowledgments

This research was financially supported by the BioPotato network (co-leaders: Drs. Helen Tai and Yvan Pelletier) under the Agricultural Bioproducts Innovation Program (ABIP) of Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada. The authors thank Mrs. Elizabeth Donner for her technical support.

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Author notes

  1. Yachuan Zhang

    Present address: Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutriceuticals, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Guelph Food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, ON, N1G 5C9, Canada

    Yachuan Zhang, Xin Yuan & Qiang Liu

  2. Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B9, Canada

    Andrew Hrymak

Authors
  1. Yachuan Zhang
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  2. Xin Yuan
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  3. Qiang Liu
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Correspondence to Qiang Liu.

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Zhang, Y., Yuan, X., Liu, Q. et al. The Effect of Polymeric Chain Extenders on Physical Properties of Thermoplastic Starch and Polylactic Acid Blends. J Polym Environ 20, 315–325 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-011-0368-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-011-0368-3

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