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Abstract: An ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride [BMIM]Cl) was used as a plasticizer in starch, zein and their blends; and compared to glycerol, a classical plasticizer of starch. Thermoplastic plasticized biopolymer materials were obtained by melt processing using a twin screw microcompounder. Such a device allows simulating a twin screw extrusion process on small batches of a few grams, and to evaluate the necessary specific mechanical energy input for native starch destructurization; and the final apparent melt viscosity. Both were shown to be significantly reduced for starch in presence of [BMIM]Cl (compared to glycerol), while zein processing behavior was less sensitive to the plasticizer used. This induces significant starch/zein viscosity ratio differences, which affect melt mixing of the starch zein blends. In starch rich blends, this results in smaller zein aggregates in the case of [BMIM]Cl. The characterization of the materials indicates that, compared to glycerol, the use of [BMIM]Cl leads to less hygroscopicity, a more efficient plasticization of both starch and zein phases and a compatibilization of starch/zein blends. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study combines experimental and numerical approaches to investigate the microstructure and mechanical behaviour of non-miscible plasticised starch/zein blends. The concept of Representative Elementary Size (RES) is used to rank the effect of five different plasticisers (cholinium acetate, glycerol, butyl methyl imidazolium chloride, glycerol-choline chloride, urea-choline chloride) inducing microstructural and mechanical changes in the blends. Microstructural and mechanical RESs are derived from microscopy image analysis and Finite Element Modelling of elasticity behaviour of studied blends. Compared to the usual consideration of ultimate mechanical properties (elongation and stress at break), the RES-based approach allows detecting the presence of perfect or imperfect interface between starch and zein particles depending on the nature of plasticiser. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the properties of cellulose (CE)/xyloglucan (XG) biopolymer blends are investigated, taking inspiration from the outstanding mechanical properties of plant cell walls. CE and XG were first co-solubilized in an ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, in order to blend these biopolymers with a varying CE:XG ratio. The biopolymers were then regenerated together using water to produce solid blends in the form of films. Water-soluble XG persisted in the films following regeneration in water, indicating an attractive interaction between the CE and XG. The final CE:XG ratio of the blends was close to the initial value in solutions, further suggesting that intimate mixing takes place between CE and XG. The resulting CE/XG films were found to be free of ionic liquid, transparent and with no evidence of phase separation at the micron scale. The mechanical properties of the blend with a CE:XG ratio close to one revealed a synergistic effect for which a maximum in the elongation and stress at break was observed in combination with a high elastic modulus. Atomic force microscopy indicates a co-continuous nanostructure for this composition. It is proposed that the non-monotonous variation of the mechanical performance of the films with XG content is due to this observed nanostructuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]