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On the representative elementary size concept to evaluate the compatibilisation of a plasticised biopolymer blend
Justin Favero1, Sofiane Belhabib2, Sofiane Guessasma3
1UBL, CNRS, GEPEA, UMR 6144, IUT de Nantes, 2 avenue du Professeur Jean Rouxel, 44475 Carquefou Cédex, France; INRA, UR1268 Biopolymères Interactions Assemblages, F-44300 Nantes, France.
Abstract:
This study combines experimental and numerical approaches to investigate the microstructure and mechanical behaviour of non-miscible plasticised starch/zein blends. The concept of Representative Elementary Size (RES) is used to rank the effect of five different plasticisers (cholinium acetate, glycerol, butyl methyl imidazolium chloride, glycerol-choline chloride, urea-choline chloride) inducing microstructural and mechanical changes in the blends. Microstructural and mechanical RESs are derived from microscopy image analysis and Finite Element Modelling of elasticity behaviour of studied blends. Compared to the usual consideration of ultimate mechanical properties (elongation and stress at break), the RES-based approach allows detecting the presence of perfect or imperfect interface between starch and zein particles depending on the nature of plasticiser.
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