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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Bioproducts Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #186308
Title: PROPERTIES OF BAKED STARCH FOAM WITH NATURAL RUBBER LATEX

Author
item Shey, Justin
item Imam, Syed
item Glenn, Gregory - Greg
item Orts, William

Submitted to: Industrial Crops and Products
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/16/2005
Publication Date: 5/12/2006
Citation: Shey, J., Imam, S.H., Glenn, G.M., Orts, W.J. 2006. Properties of baked starch foam with natural rubber latex. Industrial Crops and Products, 24:34-40.

Interpretive Summary: Of consumer articles made mostly from non-renewable resources, petroleum-based synthetic plastics constitute the largest such category of municipal solid waste in the United States. Containers and packaging products represent the largest group within plastic waste in municipal landfills. Because of this, efforts are being made worldwide to search for renewable and biodegradable substitutes for petroleum-based plastics. Starches, derived from surplus commodity crops, have been investigated as a possible replacement, but it does have some disadvantages such as its susceptibility to water owing to its highly hydrophilic nature. To improve its water resistance, we have studied the properties of baked starch foams with added natural rubber latex. The starches investigated were wheat, potato, and waxy corn. Stabilization of the latex with non-ionic detergents helped prevent irregularities in the foam product. Latex does decrease the effect of higher humidity on the foam products. The mechanical properties of these foams are comparable to commercial products and can be adjusted by varying the ingredients.

Technical Abstract: Of consumer articles made mostly from non-renewable resources, petroleum-based synthetic plastics constitute the largest such category of municipal solid waste in the United States. Containers and packaging products represent the largest group within plastic waste in municipal landfills. Because of this, efforts are being made worldwide to search for renewable and biodegradable substitutes for petroleum-based plastics. Starches, derived from surplus commodity crops, have been investigated as a possible replacement, but it does have some disadvantages such as its susceptibility to water owing to its highly hydrophilic nature. To improve its water resistance, we have studied the properties of baked starch foams with added natural rubber latex. The starches investigated were wheat, potato, and waxy corn. While latex does increased the density of the foam, it also improved the flexibility of the product. Stabilization of the latex with non-ionic detergents helped prevent irregularities in the foam product. The flexural properties of these foams are comparable to commercial products and can be ‘tuned’ by varying the starches and adjusting the latex concentration. Latex also decreases the equilibrium moisture content and decreases the effect of higher humidity on the foam products.