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    Flexible starch-polyurethane films: Physiochemical characteristics and hydrophobicity

    Year: 2017

    Journal: Carbohydr. Polym., Volume 163, MAY 1, page 236–246

    Authors: Tai, N. L.; Adhikari, Raju; Shanks, Robert; Adhikari, Benu

    Organizations: RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia; CSIRO, Australia

    Keywords: High amylose starch; Polyurethane; Polyethylene glycol-isocyanate; Packaging films; Hydrophobicity; Flexibility

    Starch-polyurethane (PU) composite films with improved mechanical and hydrophobic properties were developed in this work. A simple and effective microwave-aided starch gelatinisation instrument was used to prepare glycerol plasticized high amylose starch (HAGS) material. Polyethylene glycol-isocyanate (PEG-iso) linker was prepared by reacting PEG 1000 with hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI). PEG-iso linker was then grafted into HAGS forming three dimensional urethane networks (PEG-PU). HAGS-PEG-PU composite blends were prepared and dried at ambient temperature to obtain HAGS-PEG-PU films. The mechanical properties and hydrophobicity (as contact angle, CA) of the HAGS-PEG-PU films were measured and analysed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed good grafting of PEG-iso into starch structure. Increase of PEG-iso concentration up to 20% (w/w) improved the molecular mixing and interpenetration between the starch and PEG-PU. The HAGS-PEG-PU films had improved hydrophobicity as indicated by CA values ranging from 51 to 110 and very high flexibility as evidenced from elongation at break (epsilon(B)) values from 17 to 1000%. The HAGS-PEG-PU film formulation containing 20% (w/w) PEG-iso provided the best flexibility (epsilon(B) >1000%) and hydrophobicity (CA > 110 degrees). (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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