Biopolymers
Functional Polymer Systems
Synthesis and Polymer Technology
Water-born Polymer Systems
Pilot Plant Center Schkopau
The nature provides us with the feedstock starch a potential for the development of products with different functionalities. The chemical derivatisation of starch is gaining in importance besides the physical, acid hydrolytic and enzymatic treatment. Cationic, anionic and hydrophobic substituents cause a broad spectrum of different physical properties.
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Contact Dr. Waltraud Vorwerg Phone +49 331 568-1609 Fax +49 331 568-3163 e-mail waltraud.vorwerg@iap.fraunhofer.de |
Starch is used as viscosity regulator, suspension agent, emulgator, gelling agent, binder
and film former or rather material component in technical area as well as in food production.
Some starch specific aspects have to be taken in consideration choosing the kind of
functionalisation and processing technology of to achieve the defined product development.
Starch variety and amylose/amylopectin ratio as well as molecular composition, molar mass and
distribution of substituents influence the product properties.
To establish of correlations between the structure and the suitability for special
applications the
molecular characterisation
is complemented by other investigations as solubility, dipersibility, film formation,
extrusion processing, rheological behaviour, application in separation processes and interaction
with other polymers and low molecular substances.
Starch offers not only opportunities to optimise for special physical-chemical properties
but it is compatible with hydrocolloids and other water soluble polymers and can therefore be
an effective component in multifunctional systems.