Abstract
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and friction force microscopy (FFM) have been used to characterize the ageing of thermoplastic starch (TPS) films prepared by the extrusion technique, using water and glycerol as plasticizers.
The fresh oat and barley starch films (1 week after extrusion) have flat and homogeneous surfaces. In the older starch films (2–5 weeks), the surface roughness has changed and the friction images reveal surface heterogeneity.
The structural changes are supported by the tip-sample force–distance curve analysis. The changes in the structural properties during ageing i.e. starch–glycerol phase separation, crystallization of starch, or reorientation of polymers, are discussed.
The fresh oat and barley starch films (1 week after extrusion) have flat and homogeneous surfaces. In the older starch films (2–5 weeks), the surface roughness has changed and the friction images reveal surface heterogeneity.
The structural changes are supported by the tip-sample force–distance curve analysis. The changes in the structural properties during ageing i.e. starch–glycerol phase separation, crystallization of starch, or reorientation of polymers, are discussed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 7-12 |
| Journal | Carbohydrate Polymers |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1998 |
| MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |