UNI-MB - logo
UMNIK - logo
 
E-viri
Celotno besedilo
Recenzirano
  • Effect of TiO[sub.2] Nanopa...
    Iacovone, Carolina; Yulita, Federico; Cerini, Daniel; Peña, Daniel; Candal, Roberto; Goyanes, Silvia; Pietrasanta, Lía I; Guz, Lucas; Famá, Lucía

    Polymers, 01/2023, Letnik: 15, Številka: 3
    Journal Article

    Biodegradable polymers have been strongly recognized as an alternative to replace traditional petrochemical plastics, which have become a global problem due to their long persistence in the environment. In this work, the effect of the addition of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiOsub.2NP) on the morphology, physicochemical properties and biodegradation under industrial composting conditions of cassava starch-based nanocomposites obtained by extrusion at different screw speeds (80 and 120 rpm) were investigated. Films performed at 120 rpm (Ssub.120 and Ssub.120-TiOsub.2NP) showed completely processed starch and homogeneously distributed nanoparticles, leading to much more flexible nanocomposites than those obtained at 80 rpm. The incorporation of TiOsub.2NP led to an increase in storage modulus of all films and, in the case of Ssub.120-TiOsub.2NP, to higher strain at break values. From the Kohlrausch-Williams-Watts theoretical model (KWW), an increase in the relaxation time of the nanocomposites was observed due to a decrease in the number of polymer chains involved in the relaxation process. Additionally, Ssub.120-TiOsub.2NP showed effective protection against UV light, greater hydrophobicity and faster biodegradation in compost, resulting in a promising material for food packaging applications.