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    Thermal, mechanical and viscoelastic properties of citric acid-crosslinked starch/cellulose composite foams

    Year: 2020

    Journal: Carbohydr. Polym., Volume 230, FEB 15

    Authors: Hassan, M. M.; Tucker, N.; Le Guen, M. J.

    Organizations: Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) of the Government of New Zealand through the Biopolymer Network Ltd. [BPLY1302]

    Keywords: Biocomposites; Starch/cellulose foam; Cross-linking; Viscoelastic properties; Moisture absorption; Flexural properties

    In this work, biodegradable starch/cellulose composite foams were fabricated at 220 degrees C by compression moulding gelatinised starch containing cellulose fibres as a reinforcing agent and citric acid as a cross-linking agent. It was found that the stiffness, tensile strength, flexural strength, and hydrophobicity of the starch/ cellulose composite foams increased, and water absorption capacity decreased with an increase in the concentration of citric acid. The tensile strength increased from 1.76 MPa for 0 % citric acid to 2.25 MPa for the starch/cellulose composite foam crosslinked with 5 % (w/w) citric acid. Similarly, the flexural modulus also increased from 445 MPa to 601.1 MPa, and the flexural strength from 3.76 MPa to 7.61 MPa, for the composite foam crosslinked with 5 % (w/w) citric acid. The crosslinked composite foams showed better thermal stability compared to the non-crosslinked composite foam. The resulting composite foams could be used as a biodegradable alternative to expanded polystyrene packaging.
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