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Examination of starch preprocess drying and water absorption of injection‐molded starch‐filled poly(lactic acid) products
Author(s) -
Kovács J.G.,
Tábi T.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.21900
Subject(s) - starch , absorption of water , materials science , distilled water , compounding , composite material , lactic acid , plastics extrusion , ultimate tensile strength , absorption (acoustics) , moisture , chemical engineering , food science , chemistry , chromatography , biology , bacteria , engineering , genetics
This article focuses on the drying of native maize starch before compounding with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and on the water absorption of injection‐molded starch‐filled PLA products. The mass loss of starch was examined while drying in a vented oven at various temperatures, and a proposal was made for complete drying. A temperature‐dependent mathematical model was established to describe the moisture loss of native starch. The dried starch was mixed with PLA, compounded with a twin‐screw extruder, and finally injection‐molded into 80 × 80 mm 2 area, 2‐mm‐thick flat specimens. These specimens were placed into distilled water to analyze the water uptake and the change in mechanical properties and deformation caused by water uptake for 1 month. Another mathematical model was established to describe the water absorption of the specimens. With the proper drying of starch and PLA, a 30 wt% starch content PLA product was injection‐molded with significantly higher tensile strength compared with literature data. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers