Co-authors​ :

 Kyeongmin KIM (KOREA, REPUBLIC OF), Yosep JANG (KOREA, REPUBLIC OF), Hyuk Jun KWON (KOREA, REPUBLIC OF), Ki-Seob HWANG , Jun-Young LEE  

In recent decades, traditional petroleum-based plastics have been widely used, contributing to environmental pollution. In response, there has been a growing interest in alternative materials that are biodegradable and renewable. This paper introduces a novel approach to enhance the properties of thermoplastic starch (TPS), based on starch, by incorporating chain extenders. While TPS offers excellent biodegradability, it has faced challenges such as high brittleness and inadequate thermal stability and oxygen barrier properties. To address these issues, this study uses melt blending technology to synthesize modified TPS in combination with epoxy chain extender (ECE) and ionic chain extender (ICE) and compare them according to their content. The properties of the modified TPS were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) at varying concentrations of each chain extender (CE). Results indicate that increasing CE concentration enhances the thermal, barrier and mechanical properties of TPS. Specifically, TPS with CE showed a significantly reduction in oxygen permeability and water vapor permeability, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of chain extender-modified TPS for a wide range of applications in the coating industry, showcasing its biodegradability and renewability. Ultimately, this study opens new possibilities for the development of environmentally friendly materials.