Grafting poly(2-acryloyloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride) branches onto the backbones of corn starch for toughening starch film

Abstract

Abstract This work was undertaken to examine the effect of poly(2-acryloyloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride) (PATAC) branches grafted onto the backbones of starch on the toughening of starch film. A series of starch-g-PATAC samples having different levels of grafting ratio were prepared by the graft copolymerization of granular corn starch with ATAC in an aqueous system, using Fenton’s initiator through changing the weight ratio of the monomer to starch. The influences of grafted branches on the properties such as tensile strength, breaking elongation, work-to-break, bending endurance, moisture regain, swelling power, and solubility of starch film were evaluated by comparison with those of acid-treated starch (ATS). It was found that the branches were able to toughen starch film due to the significant increases in breaking elongation, work-to-break and bending endurance of the film. The branches were also able to increase its moisture regain, water swelling power, and solubility. In addition, the properties were dependent on the amount of the branches. Furthermore, the grafted starch was biodegradable when its grafting ratio did not exceed 7.5 wt%.