Emerging biodegradable materials: starch- and protein-based bio-nanocomposites

This article provides a broad overview on the natural polymer-based bio-nanocomposite properties, processing and application. Bio-nanocomposites prepared with natural biopolymers, such as starch and protein, can be formed using a melt intercalation or a solvent intercalation method. Incorporation of layered silicates into the biopolymer matrices results in improved mechanical properties, water vapor barrier properties, and thermal stability of the resulting bio-nanocomposites without sacrificing biodegradability due to their nanometer size dispersion. Consequently, even though natural polymer-based bio-nanocomposite is in its infancy, it has a huge potential in the future

Advanced nano-biocomposites based on starch

Starch as a biopolymer directly extracted from nature has received much attention in recent years due to its strong advantages such as low cost, wide availability, renewability, and total compostability without toxic residues. Starch-based materials always display properties that are less satisfactory than those of traditional polymer materials, which can be ascribed to the inherent characteristics of starch. To make such materials to be truly competitive and to widen its applications, the development of starch-based nano-biocomposites could be a promising solution. This chapter provides the fundamental knowledge related to starch-based nano-biocomposites as well as the most recent developments in this area. Various types of nanofillers that have been used with plasticized starch are discussed such as montmorillonite, cellulose nanowhiskers, and starch nanoparticles. The preparation strategies for starch-based nano-biocomposites with these types of nanofillers and the corresponding dispersion state and related properties are also largely discussed