Thermoplastic starch materials and methods of making the same are provided. The methods involve mixing a starch material, plasticizer and water in a low-shear mixer under conditions that will result in substantial gelatinization of the starch material. The melt formed within the mixer is discharged into an extruder for final processing. The methods prevent degradation of the starch material thereby resulting in the formation of a thermoplastic starch material having high strength, due at least in part to the preservation of the molecular weight characteristics of the starch, and improved elasticity due the ability to use higher water contents than conventional processes.

A shaping mold for forming a porous starch container includes a porous female which is breathable and is formed with a cavity; a porous male mold which is breathable; wherein the porous male mold contains a male mold plate and a protrusion; the protrusion extends from a bottom of the male mold plate; the porous male mold has at least one penetrating hole penetrating the male mold plate and the protrusion; and wherein when the porous male mold is combined to the porous female mold, a shaping space is formed between the protrusion of the porous male mold and the cavity of the porous female mold for forming a porous starch container; the shaping space is communicated to the penetrating hole. The starch material contains 50 wt %90 wt % (weight percentage) starch; 5 wt %25 wt % fiber enhancer; 3 wt %30 wt % CaCO.sub.3 for hardening; and may further contains 02 wt %5 wt % foaming material.

A cosmetic container and manufacturing method thereof may include steps of obtaining raw material, mixing granulation, and molding by injection to manufacture a cosmetic container. In the step of obtaining raw material, a plurality of fibers as main raw material of the cosmetic container are extracted from natural plants. In the step of mixing granulation, the extracted fibers are configured to mix with a plentiful vegetable gum and starch, and the mixed compound is adapted to be granulated through a granulating machine to form into a plurality of granules. Thereafter, in the step of molding by injection, the granules is sent into a processor, and the processor is configured to heat and melt the granules and to inject and fill the melted compound in a plurality of mold cavities of a forming mold.

Apparatus and methods for improved composition of floor coverings, utilizing bio-renewable materials, is disclosed. Floor coverings, or tacky mats, may be used in cleanroom environments to capture particulate matter from foot and equipment traffic. Bio-renewable materials may include thermoplastic starch (TPS) blends made from sustainable raw materials such as corn, tapioca, or the like. These bio-renewable materials may be blended and coextruded with synthetic or petro-based polymers. This reduces the environmental impact on production and disposal of the floor mat, while maintaining the physical and mechanical properties demonstrated by pure synthetic polymers.

The invention relates to a process for producing a blend of a thermoplastic starch and a polyolefin using a first extruder comprising successive zones comprising a first zone, a second zone, a third zone and a fourth zone and a second extruder comprising successive zones comprising a first zone, a second zone, a third zone and a fourth zone, the process comprising the steps of: 1 a) introducing a polyolefin and a compatibilizer in the first zone of the first extruder, 1 b) melt mixing the polyolefin and the compatibilizer in the second zone of the first extruder, 1 c) adding a thermoplastic starch to the mixture of step 1 b) in the third zone of the first extruder and 1 d) melt-mixing the mixture of step 1 c) in the fourth zone of the first extruder to obtain the blend, wherein the thermoplastic starch is produced in the second extruder by a process comprising the steps of: 2a) introducing starch in the first zone of the second extruder, 2b) adding a plasticiser to the mixture of step 2a) in the second zone of the second extruder to obtain the thermoplastic starch, 2c) degassing the thermoplastic starch of step 2b) in the third zone of the second extruder and 2d) pressurizing the degassed thermoplastic starch of step 2c) in the fourth zone of the second extruder to be moved to the third zone of the first extruder.

An apparatus for forming blanks from fibrous material is disclosed. The apparatus includes a die having a porous body with a plurality of perforations extending there through, the plurality of perforations having varying sizes and being layered from a top surface to a bottom surface of the porous body. A smooth molding surface is provided on the top surface to hold the fibrous material and allow water to drain from the fibrous material through the plurality of perforations.

The present invention provides a hydrophobic thermoplastic starch and method for manufacturing the same, to be used as granules for making biodegradable composites. The hydrophobic thermoplastic Starch of the invention is in a granule type, has the melt flow index in the range of 0.26 g/10 min at 160 C. and has 6080 wt % of starch and the water content less than 9%.

Injection molded articles and methods for making them from bio-based materials are described. More specifically, injection molded articles and methods for making them from bio-based materials that behave like high-molecular-weight thermosets such as lignin or protein-based materials including corn gluten meal, corn gluten feed, distillers dried grains with solubles, wet distillers grains, modified wet distillers grains, canola meal, wheat gluten, barley, cottonseed meal, sunflower meal, linseed meal, soy, rapeseed, sorghum proteins, maize, rice proteins, potato proteins, cassava proteins, sweet potato proteins, yam proteins, plantain proteins, keratin, or collagen are described.

The invention discloses a starch-based multi-channel airflow unit and a preparation method and an application thereof. The preparation method of the present invention comprises the following steps: melting a polylactic acid, wherein a temperature of a first temperature control zone is 135 C. to 145 C., a temperature of a second temperature control zone is 175 C. to 185 C., a temperature of a third temperature control zone is 190 C. to 200 C., and a temperature of a fourth temperature control zone is 175 C. to 185 C.; gelatinizing a starch-based material, adding the starch-based material in the third temperature control zone and fully mixing the mixture; adding a polyol in the third temperature control zone, and fully mixing the mixture; and extruding out the mixed material through twin screws, sizing in vacuum, cooling and sizing, and winding and cutting to obtain the starch-based multi-channel airflow unit.

A system and method for creating a rigid foam substitute is provided. By using natural binding materials and natural fiber materials, the system and method may be used to create environmentally friendly substitutes for expanded polystyrene. The system generally comprises a processing room and molding facility. The processing room may comprise an opener, cleaner, and blower, which may be used to break up and clean the natural fiber material. The molding facility may comprise a mixer, molder, and kiln, which may be used to create casts. The method generally entails processing a natural fiber material before mixing it with a natural binding material and fluid to create a fluidic mixture, wherein said fluidic mixture is subsequently molded and cured to create a finished product.