Improved film formability of oxidized starch-based blends through controlled modification with cellulose nanocrystals

Cellulose and starch are main chemical components of plant biomass, and can be used to produce value-added materials. Herein, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) was used along with NaClO to prepare oxidized corn starch. Subsequently, the oxidized starch was blended with PVA/glycerol to prepare oxidized starch-based blends for film formation and coating paper. The properties of oxidized starch and film formability were modified by addition of CNC and PVA/glycerol. The oxidized starch showed the highest oxidizing degree at 1.10% with 0.5 wt% CNC and 8.0 wt% NaClO. Oxidized starch-based blends had lower viscosity and better uniformity than that of corn starch. The oxidized starch-based composite film showed the optimal water resistance, surface free energy and air permeability. Blending with 30 wt% PVA, the oxidized starch-based composite film showed the best tensile strength, and a simple structural model was simulated. The three-dimensional structure of coated paper was visualized using computed tomography scan (CT-Scan), and verified the good penetration of starch-based blends. The coated paper showed a more dense structure compared to the control paper, and had better waterproof performance and physical strength properties with oxidized starch with the highest oxidizing degree.