Enhancing Starch-Based Packaging Materials: Optimization of Plasticizers and Process Parameters

In order to actively promote green production and address these concerns, there is an urgent need for new packaging materials to replace traditional plastic products. Starch-based packaging materials, composed of starch, fiber, and plasticizers, offer a degradable and environmentally friendly alternative. However, there are challenges related to the high crystallinity and poor compatibility between thermoplastic starch and fibers, resulting in decreased mechanical properties. To address these challenges, a novel approach combining plasticizer optimization and response surface method (RSM) optimization has been proposed to enhance the mechanical properties of starch-based packaging materials. This method leverages the advantages of composite plasticizers and process parameters. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography results demonstrate that the composite plasticizer effectively disrupts the hydrogen bonding and granule morphology of starch, leading to a significant reduction in crystallinity. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results show that an addition of glycerol and D-fructose to the starch can form new hydrogen bonds between them, resulting in an enhanced plasticizing effect. The optimal process parameters are determined using the RSM, resulting in a forming temperature of 198 °C, a forming time of 5.4 min, and an AC content of 0.84 g. Compared with the non-optimized values, the tensile strength increases by 12.2% and the rebound rate increases by 8.1%.