Kilyk & Bowersox, P.L.L.C.
Starch nanocomposite materials
In one aspect, the invention provides a substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material including starch and hydrophobically modified layered silicate clay. In another aspect, the invention provides packaging made from material including the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above. The nanocomposite material has improved mechanical and rheological properties and reduced sensitivity to moisture in that the rates of moisture update and/or loss are reduced. In another aspect, the invention provides a process for preparing the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above, including a step of mixing the starch in the form of an aqueous gel with the hydrophobic clay in a melt mixing device. In a further aspect, the invention provides a process for preparing the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material, including the steps of mixing the starch with the hydrophobic clay to form a masterbatch (hereinafter “the masterbatch process”) and mixing the masterbatch with further starch.
PLANTIC TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
B B B C B C B C B
B29B B29C B29B C08K B29B C08L B29B C08K B29B
inventional inventional inventional inventional inventional inventional inventional additional inventional
Graeme Robert Wasantha Kishan Edmond Jana Lance Antonietta George Guoxin
Moad Shanks Gunaratne Khemani Lascaris Habsuda Nichols Genovese Simon Li