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Synthesis and characterization of hydrophobically modified starch by ring opening polymerization using imidazole as catalyst
Author(s) -
Zerroukhi Amar,
Jeanmaire Thomas,
Raveyre Claude,
Ainser Auder
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
starch ‐ stärke
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.62
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1521-379X
pISSN - 0038-9056
DOI - 10.1002/star.201100154
Subject(s) - starch , polymerization , catalysis , contact angle , imidazole , ring opening polymerization , polymer chemistry , materials science , polyester , chemical engineering , thermoplastic , solvent , organic chemistry , polymer , chemistry , composite material , engineering
This paper reports on the synthesis of polyester‐grafted starch (starch‐ g ‐PCL) by in situ ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL) catalyzed by a metal free organic catalyst (imidazole). This reaction has been carried out in bulk, without solvent. The structure of starch‐ g ‐PCL was characterized by IR, NMR, DSC, and SEM. A moisture sorption isotherm of modified starch revealed a more hydrophobic material. A water contact angle measurement also confirmed the hydrophobic character of starch‐ g ‐PCL. As expected, this chemical modification reduced the diffusion coefficient of water. The use of an organic catalyst instead of the traditional organometallic catalyst offers an interesting alternative for producing moisture tolerant thermoplastic starch‐based materials.