Microwave-crosslinked Bio-based Starch/Clay aerogels

Foam-like robust starch/sodium montmorillonite (Na+-MMT) aerogels were fabricated through a freeze-drying process. Glutaraldehyde (GL) was used to crosslink the starch aerogels with the assistance of radiation supplied by a domestic microwave oven. The chemical reaction between GL and starch was ana...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Wang, Liang, Sánchez Soto, Miguel|||0000-0002-0023-5059, Maspoch Rulduà, M. Lluïsa|||0000-0002-4813-6412, Santana Pérez, Orlando Onofre|||0000-0003-3040-6848
Format: article
Publication Date:2016
Country:España
Institution:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repository:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/87523
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/87523
https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pi.5104
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Aerogels
Biodegradable plastics
starch
aerogel
crosslink
microwave
biodegradability
Aerogels -- Biodegradació
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria dels materials
Description
Summary:Foam-like robust starch/sodium montmorillonite (Na+-MMT) aerogels were fabricated through a freeze-drying process. Glutaraldehyde (GL) was used to crosslink the starch aerogels with the assistance of radiation supplied by a domestic microwave oven. The chemical reaction between GL and starch was analysed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and water swelling tests. The microstructures and mechanical properties of the resultant crosslinked starch aerogels changed with GL concentration. By incorporating 5% (w/w) GL, the specific compressive modulus and absorbed energy increased by 2.4 and 3.3 times, respectively. In regard to starch/clay aerogel composites, Na+-MMT clay played the role of reinforcement. Moreover, clay addition created more porous structures and hence decreased the thermal conductivity of the aerogels. The biodegradability of the aerogels was studied using a homemade micro-respirometer. The starch aerogels exhibited higher biodegradability than poly(vinyl alcohol)-based ones and their corresponding films.