The thermoplastics processing of natural hydrophilic polymers in the presence of water is a recent development with very wide possible applications. Eventually, oil-based polymer materials could be replaced in many applications by inexpensive, natural products from renewable resources. As with conventional thermoplastics, hydrophilic polymer melts may be processed by injection-moulding and extrusion. The present contribution focuses on the injection-moulding of potato starch. The basis of the processing is described. In addition, the rheological behaviour of the starch/water melts during processing is analysed quantitatively to give apparent melt viscosities. The mechanical properties of moulded starch materials and the drug delivery behaviour of starch capsules are discussed.
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R. F. T. Stepto (1997) studied this question.
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