Size effect of ZnO nanorods on physicochemical properties of plasticized starch composites

作者：Guz L; Fama L; Candal R; Goyanes S

来源：Carbohydrate Polymers, 2017, 157: 1611-1619.

DOI：10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.11.041

• Starch composite
• ZnO nanorods size
• Biodegradability
• Bactericidal activity

This work demonstrates that the size of ZnO nanorods (ZnONR) with similar aspect ratio determines several physicochemical and microbiological properties of thermoplastic starch composites (TPS/ZnONR) at a given concentration of ZnONRs. A combination of sol-gel and hydrothermal methods was developed to synthesize ZnONR with different sizes but similar aspect ratios. Starch composites containing 1 wt.% of ZnONR were prepared by casting. Composites with smaller size nanorods (ZnONR-S) showed more efficiency in shielding UVA radiation and had a higher solubility and water vapor permeability than those with larger nanorods (ZnONR-L). Mechanical properties, biodegradability and antibacterial activity were also influenced by the size of the ZnONR. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that composites with ZnONR-S maintained the typical B-V type starch structure, intensifying the V-type starch structure peaks, while composite with ZnONR-L induced the formation of an amorphous structure, preventing starch retrogradation during storage. Properties affected by nanorods size are fundamental in determining composite applications.

• 出版日期2017-2-10