Reinforced thermoplastic acetylated starch with layered silicates

Montmorillonite (MMT) and organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) were utilized to reinforce the thermoplastic acetylated starch (TPAS) composite prepared with glycerol as a plasticizer. After the addition of layered silicates, the restriction of the motion of the intercalated acetylated starch molecular chains by the clay layer sheets led to an increase in melt viscosity and equilibrium torque. As expected, the tensile strength and storage modulus of the TPAS composite were remarkably enhanced due to the interaction of layered silicates with the TPAS matrix, but the thermal stability of the TPAS composite was not obviously improved. The greater reinforcing effect of OMMT than that of MMT could be attributed to the better dispersion of OMMT in the TPAS matrix, resulting from the larger distance between OMMT layers after the modification by organic ammonium cations with long alkyl chains.