Submitted to: American Chemical Society National Meeting
Publication Acceptance Date: May 20, 2004
Publication Date: August 26, 2004
Citation: Chiou, B., Yee, E., Glenn, G.M., Orts, W.J., Wood, D.F., Imam, S.H. 2004. Biopolymer Nanocomposites Containing Native Wheat Starch And Nanoclays. American Chemical Society National Meeting, August 22-26, 2004, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Abstract.

Technical Abstract: We formed bio-based polymer nanocomposites made from renewable resources by adding montmorillonite nanoclays to native wheat starch. We produced these polymer composites by using a twin-screw extruder and characterized their properties by using rheology, x-ray diffraction, tensile, water absorbance, and water vapor transmission tests. We first examined the interactions between the nanoclays, wheat starch, and water by measuring the formulation's rheological properties during gelatinization. The sample with the most hydrophilic nanoclay, Cloisite Na+, had the largest elastic modulus, indicating the Cloisite Na+ nanoclays became better intercalated than the other nanoclays. We then produced the nanoclay and starch composites by using a twin-screw extruder. From X-ray diffraction results, the solid to liquid ratio had the greatest effect on the nanoclay intercalation. Adding the nanoclay reduced the water absorbance by as much as 29% for some samples. In addition, the samples had higher modulus and lower stress and strains at break.