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Cellulose-starch Hybrid Films Plasticized by Aqueous ZnCl2 Solution

Lookup NU author(s): Professor David XieORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

Starch and cellulose are two typical natural polymers from plants that have similar chemical structures. The blending of these two biopolymers for materials development is an interesting topic, although how their molecular interactions could influence the conformation and properties of the resultant materials has not been studied extensively. Herein, the rheological properties of cellulose/starch/ZnCl2 solutions were studied, and the structures and properties of cellulose-starch hybrid films were characterized. The rheological study shows that compared with starch (containing mostly amylose), cellulose contributed more to the solution’s viscosity and has a stronger shear-thinning behavior. A comparison between the experimental and calculated zero-shear-rate viscosities indicates that compact complexes (interfacial interactions) formed between cellulose and starch with ≤50 wt % cellulose content, whereas a loose structure (phase separation) existed with ≥70 wt % cellulose content. For starch-rich hybrid films prepared by compression molding, less than 7 wt % of cellulose was found to improve the mechanical properties despite the reduced crystallinity of the starch; for cellulose-rich hybrid films, a higher content of starch reduced the material properties, although the chemical interactions were not apparently influenced. It is concluded that the mechanical properties of biopolymer films were mainly affected by the structural conformation, as indicated by the rheological results.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Shang X, Jiang H, Wang Q, Liu P, Xie F

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Year: 2019

Volume: 20

Issue: 3

Print publication date: 22/01/2019

Online publication date: 22/01/2019

Acceptance date: 16/01/2019

Date deposited: 23/05/2023

ISSN (electronic): 1422-0067

Publisher: MDPI

URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20030474

DOI: 10.3390/ijms20030474


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
201610010019
2018A0303130048
GXPSMM18ZD-02

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