Preparation, performance and application - Current status and trends in thermoplastic starch

Area of Science:

• * Polymer Science
• * Materials Science
• * Green Chemistry

Background:

• * Growing demand for sustainable, bio-renewable materials to replace petroleum-based products.
• * Starch and its derivatives are abundant, inexpensive natural resources with significant industrial potential.
• * Thermoplastic starch (TPS) represents a novel class of processable biopolymers derived from natural starch.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To comprehensively review the preparation and application of thermoplastic starch (TPS) from natural starch.
• * To summarize physical and chemical modification processes for producing TPS.
• * To explore the development of various bio-based materials, including elastomers, foams, and membranes, from TPS.

Main Methods:

• * Physical and chemical modification techniques for converting natural starch into thermoplastic starch.
• * Strategies involving molecular modification, additives, and multi-component systems to tailor TPS properties.
• * Examination of processing methods for creating diverse TPS-based products.

Main Results:

• * Successful conversion of natural starch into thermoplastic-processable materials.
• * Development of high-performance, bio-renewable, multifunctional polymers and composites.
• * Creation of elastomers, foams, and functional membrane materials from TPS.

Conclusions:

• * Thermoplastic starch is a viable and versatile bio-renewable material with broad application potential.
• * Innovative integration of starch modification, processing, and application is key to advancing TPS technology.
• * This review provides a systematic overview and insights into future research directions for thermoplastic starch.