STABILIZATION OF STARCH COATINGS ON POLYETHYLENE FILMS BY GRAFT POLYMERIZATION WITH ACRYLONITRILE

Authors: Felker, Frederick; Fanta, George; Salch, John

Submitted to: American Association of Cereal Chemists Meetings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/2/2003
Publication Date: 10/2/2003
Citation: Felker, F.C., Fanta, G.F., Salch, J. 2003. Stabilization of starch coatings on polyethylene films by graft polymerization with acrylonitrile. (Abstract) American Association of Cereal Chemists Meetings. p. 287.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Deposition of a thin layer of cornstarch from jet-cooked solutions onto polyethylene (PE) films was examined. The amount of starch adhering to the films varied considerably depending on the type of starch or flour used as well as the time of incubation and cooling rate. When starch-coated PE films were allowed to react with acrylonitrile in the presence of ceric ammonium nitrate initiator, graft polymerization occurred to produce starch-g-polyacrylonitrile (starch-g-PAN) coatings that contained about 25% grafted PAN. Starch-g-PAN coatings adhered more tightly to PE film surfaces than ungrafted starch. Vigorous rubbing of wetted films removed less than 20% of the coating, and PAN-grafted coatings were not removed with boiling water. After removing starch by acid hydrolysis, the residual grafted PAN still remained adsorbed on the PE surface. There is apparently no chemical bonding between starch-g-PAN and PE. Dimensional changes associated with the evaporation of water from these PAN-grafted coatings caused the films to curl during drying. Since the final shape of these coated films depends upon the presence or absence of water in the surrounding environment, these films may be considered to be a type of stimulus-responsive polymer. These hydrophilic coatings could be used for many applications including printable plastic films and food packaging.