Humidity- and Age-Tolerant Starch-Based Sponge for Loose-Fill Packaging

1572-8900

Starch ; loose-fill ; humidity ; aging

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering

Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics

Abstract Loose-fill packaging sponges were extruded from mixtures of 54–62% hydroxypropylated (HP ≍ 5%) amylomaize V (50% amylose) and wheat starches, 17–24% synthetic polymer, ∼13% water, 7% blowing agent(s), and 0.5% nucleating agent. One product made from 28% HP wheat starch, 28% HP amylomaize V starch, 12% ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymer, 8% polystyrene (PS), and 3% polystyrene maleic anhydride (PSMA) copolymer, plus the other raw materials, had a compressibility and resilience that matched those of expanded polystyrene (EPS), although its bulk density was four times higher. The starchy sponge showed 16% shrinkage in volume at 90% relative humidity and was 2% soluble in excess water, both at 25°C. After aging for 18 months near 25°C, the HP starchy sponge gave only a trace of fines in a simulated shipping test, compared to 20% fines from a biodegradable, starch-based, loose-fill sponge of commerce.

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