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Crosslinked Starch - The Future of Sustainable Bioplastics?

Bernadechi, Alexis LU (2021) FKMM01 20202
Materials Engineering
Abstract (Swedish)
Since the 1950s, no other material has been developed and used to the same extent as plastic. We have built up a society that has integrated plastics into virtually every aspect of our lives. With low material prices, cheap manufacturing methods and its versatility, plastic has quickly become a commodity in society that is consumed in an unsustainable way. Plastic pollution causes immense social, environmental and economical consequences.

The purpose of this project was to develop a material that could meet the criteria of functionality similar to disposable items and packaging while being inexpensive, sustainable and 100% degradable. A starch-based plastic-like prototype material, CX, was produced in this work with such intention.

... (More)
Since the 1950s, no other material has been developed and used to the same extent as plastic. We have built up a society that has integrated plastics into virtually every aspect of our lives. With low material prices, cheap manufacturing methods and its versatility, plastic has quickly become a commodity in society that is consumed in an unsustainable way. Plastic pollution causes immense social, environmental and economical consequences.

The purpose of this project was to develop a material that could meet the criteria of functionality similar to disposable items and packaging while being inexpensive, sustainable and 100% degradable. A starch-based plastic-like prototype material, CX, was produced in this work with such intention.

The material development was conducted through literary survey and support from Svenska lantbruksuniversitet. During the material development process, it was determined that the mechanical properties of starch can be improved by a process called crosslinking, where citric acid is used as a chemical catalyst to create stronger bonds. Air bubbles and a certain amount of shrinkage were among the defects that could not be eliminated.

From observations of the mechanical tests and the analysis of CX's commercial potential, it was concluded that CX could be developed into a fully functional plastic material that is suitable for disposable items such as plastic bags. However, more knowledge and resources would be required to ensure the viability of this project. (Less)
Popular Abstract (Swedish)
Sedan 1950-talet har inget annat material utvecklats och använts i samma utsträckning som plast. Vi har byggt upp ett samhälle som har integrerat plast i praktiskt taget alla aspekter av våra liv. I takt med låga materialpriser och billiga tillverkningsmetoder har plast blivit en vara i samhället som konsumeras på ett ohållbart sätt. Plastavfall orsakar enorma sociala, miljömässiga och ekonomiska konsekvenser.


Syftet med detta projekt är att utveckla ett material som kan uppfylla kriterierna för funktion som liknar engångsartiklar och förpackningar samtidigt som vara billigt, hållbart och 100% nedbrytbart. Ett stärkelsebaserat plastliknande prototypmaterial, CX kunde produceras fram. Luftbubblor och krympning var bland annat defekter... (More)
Sedan 1950-talet har inget annat material utvecklats och använts i samma utsträckning som plast. Vi har byggt upp ett samhälle som har integrerat plast i praktiskt taget alla aspekter av våra liv. I takt med låga materialpriser och billiga tillverkningsmetoder har plast blivit en vara i samhället som konsumeras på ett ohållbart sätt. Plastavfall orsakar enorma sociala, miljömässiga och ekonomiska konsekvenser.


Syftet med detta projekt är att utveckla ett material som kan uppfylla kriterierna för funktion som liknar engångsartiklar och förpackningar samtidigt som vara billigt, hållbart och 100% nedbrytbart. Ett stärkelsebaserat plastliknande prototypmaterial, CX kunde produceras fram. Luftbubblor och krympning var bland annat defekter som inte kunde elimineras bort.
Materialutvecklingen baserades på en självständig litteraturstudie men också från handledning av Svenska Lantbruksuniversitetet SLU. Under utvecklingsprocessen fastställs att materialtekniska egenskaper i stärkelse kan förbättras genom en process som kallas struktur-tvärbindning, där citronsyra utnyttjas som kemisk katalysator.


Diverse materialtekniska tester samt en analys av CX kommersiella potential utfördes. Från vatten absorberingstestet fastställdes att CX absorberingsförmåga sträcker sig till ungefär 120 min. Dock började materialet få försämrade materialegenskaper redan efter 60 min. Nedbrytbarhetstester av CX i brackvatten och jord påvisade en snabb nedbrytningshastighet i respektive medium. I brackvatten bröts CX ner i små fragment efter ungefär 21 dagar. Nedbrytningsprocessen till mindre fragment i jord tog ungefär 8 dagar. På den 11 dagen bröts CX ner till så pass små enheter att materialet inte kunde observeras med det blotta ögat.
I testningen av hållfasthets egenskaper, utfördes de mekaniska testet på två olika prov, CX och LDPE ( Low density polyethylene). Detta för att en jämförelse mellan materialegenskaper mellan CX och ett vanligt utnyttjat plastmaterial kunde äga rum. Av resultaten kunde det konstateras att CX har sämre materialegenskaper än LDPE.


Sammanfattningsvis resultaten och analysen av arbetet påvisar att det finns en potential att utveckla CX till ett fullt funktionellt plastmaterial som är lämpat för engångsartiklar som exempelvis plastpåsar. Det krävs dock mer kunskap och utveckling för att gå vidare med detta projekt. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Bernadechi, Alexis LU
supervisor
organization
course
FKMM01 20202
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
bioplastic, starch, degradable, durable, crosslinking
ISBN
LUTFD2/TFMT--21/5064--SE
language
English
id
9039080
date added to LUP
2021-02-03 09:06:09
date last changed
2021-02-03 09:06:09
@misc{9039080,
  abstract     = {{Since the 1950s, no other material has been developed and used to the same extent as plastic. We have built up a society that has integrated plastics into virtually every aspect of our lives. With low material prices, cheap manufacturing methods and its versatility, plastic has quickly become a commodity in society that is consumed in an unsustainable way. Plastic pollution causes immense social, environmental and economical consequences. 

The purpose of this project was to develop a material that could meet the criteria of functionality similar to disposable items and packaging while being inexpensive, sustainable and 100% degradable. A starch-based plastic-like prototype material, CX, was produced in this work with such intention.

The material development was conducted through literary survey and support from Svenska lantbruksuniversitet. During the material development process, it was determined that the mechanical properties of starch can be improved by a process called crosslinking, where citric acid is used as a chemical catalyst to create stronger bonds. Air bubbles and a certain amount of shrinkage were among the defects that could not be eliminated.
 
From observations of the mechanical tests and the analysis of CX's commercial potential, it was concluded that CX could be developed into a fully functional plastic material that is suitable for disposable items such as plastic bags. However, more knowledge and resources would be required to ensure the viability of this project.}},
  author       = {{Bernadechi, Alexis}},
  isbn         = {{LUTFD2/TFMT--21/5064--SE}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Crosslinked Starch - The Future of Sustainable Bioplastics?}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}