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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Plant Polymer Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #250660
Title: Development of Degradable Polymer Composites from Starch and Poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate)

Author
item Kim, Sanghoon
item Peterson, Steven - Steve

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/2/2010
Publication Date: 6/21/2010
Citation: Kim, S., Peterson, S.C. 2010. Development of Degradable Polymer Composites from Starch and Poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) . Meeting Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This report describes the development of degradable polymer composites that can be made at room temperature without special equipment. The developed composites are made from poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) and starch. Alkyl cyanoacrylate monomers are mixed with starch and the polymerization reaction of these monomers is initiated by dissociated hydroxy ions from moisture on the surface of the starch. After the polymerization, the body of starch granules acts as filler and the micrometer-scale gaps formed by starch granules are filled with the poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate). The reaction time of the polymerization is adjustable by controlling the moisture content of the starch granules. The polymer composites produced by this procedure contain 50-64 wt% of starch with compressive strengths of 80 (±10) MPa. Optimum starch composition for these composites is approximately 60% by weight.