Properties of fatty‐acid esters of starch

This work examines the properties of starch esters for their possible application as environmentally degradable thermoplastics. The rheological, thermal, and mechanical properties of a series of fatty‐acid esters of high‐amylose starch (as well as the effects of adding plasticizer on some selected properties) were evaluated. The ester group acts like an internal plasticizer, with an increase in the size of the fatty‐acid chain, resulting in greater internal plasticization. This is reflected in the rheological and thermal measurements as well as in the mechanical properties. Overall, larger ester groups and the addition of external plasticizer make these starch‐based materials more processable and more ductile. However, comparing their properties and cost to commodity thermoplastics leads us to believe that their commercial applications are likely to be limited, at least in the near future.