Mechanical and structural properties of solution-cast high-amylose maize starch films

Environmental issues have forced the introduction of sustainable solutions such as annually renewable resources being used as a raw material for packaging and disposables. This paper examined the effects of time and temperature during manufacturing and plasticiser content on the molecular structure of high-amylose maize starch films. It also analysed how manufacturing conditions, plasticiser content and molecular structure of the films affected their material properties. It was found that increased time or temperature increased the degradation of amylose and of amylopectin, which in turn negatively affected film cohesiveness. However, neither time nor temperature had any effect on tensile properties. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved