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High‐Performance Starch Films Reinforced With Microcrystalline Cellulose Made From Eucalyptus Pulp via Ball Milling and Mercerization
Author(s) -
Tian Yu,
Zhang Kang,
Zhou Mi,
Wei YuJun,
Cheng Fei,
Lin Yi,
Zhu PuXin
Publication year - 2019
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.201800218
Subject(s) - microcrystalline cellulose , starch , materials science , ball mill , ultimate tensile strength , pulp (tooth) , composite number , cellulose , composite material , sodium hydroxide , fabrication , microcrystalline , chemical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , engineering , crystallography
In this work, a biodegradable composite made from corn starch and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is prepared using solution‐casting method. This work provides a highly‐efficient and easily industrialized method for the fabrication of high‐performance starch composite reinforced with MCC. Prior to composite fabrication, the simultaneous exfoliation and alkali treatment is achieved through the synergetic effect of mechanical and chemical actions generated from ball milling in the presence of sodium hydroxide. The tensile strength of starch/MCC composite containing only 2 wt% MCC is increased by 49% compared with that of neat starch. In addition, the starch/MCC films exhibit excellent mechanical properties at different relative humidities. This work could significantly expand the application of starch and cellulose, thus reducing the need for petroleum‐based plastics.