Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 23, 2026

Fabrication of the Thermoplastic Microfluidic Channels
Published on: February 3, 2008
Crystalline morphology of thermoplastic starch/talc nanocomposites induced by thermal processing
Luciana A Castillo1,2, Olivia V López1, María A García3
1Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química, PLAPIQUI (UNS-CONICET), 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
Abstract:
A structural study about the changes induced by plasticization of native corn starch was carried out in this work. The influence of talc nanoparticles presence during starch thermal processing was also evaluated. Macroscopic observation of the granules appearance evolution during melt-mixing and thermo-compression was supported by a theoretical description related to these processing methods. Melt-mixing induced a polymorphic transformation from A- to Vh-type and a reduction in the degree of crystallinity. Homogenous appearance of the plasticized starch was in accordance to the disruption of granules integrity, evidenced by SEM. This observation agreed to the distinctive XRD pattern of plasticized starch from unprocessed granules. Talc incorporation did not require the adjustment of processing parameters in order to obtain a homogenous thermoplastic material, with an adequate particles distribution within the matrix. Regardless talc presence, plasticized starch presented a Vh-type crystalline structure. Thermo-compression led to particles alignment promoted by talc laminar morphology.
Related Concept Videos
Polymer Classification: Crystallinity
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...
Thermal expansion and Thermal stress: Problem Solving
To solve the problem, first, identify the known and unknown quantities. The initial length (L) of the bridge is 1275 m, the coefficient of linear expansion (α) for steel is 12 x 10-6/°C, and the change in temperature (ΔT) is 55...
Thermal Strain
Thermal Expansion
Thermal Stress
Microbial Morphologies

