The present disclosure relates to a modified environment-friendly corn starch adhesive, comprising the following components in parts by weight: 30 parts of corn starch, 300-400 parts of water, 0.2-3 parts of oxidant, and 80-120 parts of polyvinyl alcohol, 1-5 parts of cross-linking agent, 3-5 parts of calcium chloride, 0.1-3 parts of urea, 0.2-0.5 parts of defoamer, and an appropriate amount of sodium hydroxide (to adjust pH), the cross-linking agent is a modified boric acid cross-linking agent prepared by reacting boric acid with epichlorohydrin, water and citric acid at 80-100° C. The surface of the modified boric acid cross-linking agent is bonded with a large number of epoxy groups and carboxyl groups, which can react with the carboxyl and aldehyde groups of the oxidized starch. These reactions can form synergistic effect with boric acid, which together improve the bonding efficiency and improve the adhesive strength of the colloid.

Fiber-containing composites are described that contain woven or non-woven fibers, and a cured binder formed from a binder composition that includes (1) a reducing sugar and (2) a crosslinking agent that includes a first carbon moiety selected from an aldehyde, a ketone, a nitrile, and a nitro group, wherein an α-carbon atom having at least one acidic hydrogen is directly bonded to the first carbon moiety. Exemplary reducing sugars include dextrose and exemplary crosslinking agents include glyoxal. Exemplary fiber-containing composites may include fiberglass insulation.

A composite of the present disclosure, which is used as a raw material for dry molding, includes a cellulose fiber, and a starch, in which at least a part of the starch is fused to the cellulose fiber, and a content of the starch is 30.0% by mass or more and 50.0% by mass or less with respect to a total amount of the composite.

A composite of the present disclosure contains a fiber and a thermoplastic starch fused to the fiber. A method for producing a molded product of the present disclosure includes a molding raw material preparing step of preparing a molding raw material containing a fiber and a thermoplastic starch, and a molding step of molding the molding raw material into a predetermined shape by heating and pressurizing the molding raw material.

A composite of the present disclosure includes a fiber, and starch, in which at least a part of the starch is fused to the fiber, and a weight-average molecular weight of the starch is 40,000 or higher and 400,000 or lower. A method for producing a molded product of the present disclosure includes a molding raw material preparing step of preparing a molding raw material containing a fiber and a starch that has a weight-average molecular weight of 40,000 or higher and 400,000 or lower, a humidifying step of humidifying the molding raw material, and a molding step of molding the molding raw material into a predetermined shape by heating and pressurizing the molding raw material.

Bioplastic compositions containing between 2 wt. % and 25 wt. % of at least one starch, between 40 wt. % and 65 wt. % of at least one plasticizer, and between 1 wt. % to 10 wt. % of at least one acid are used as insulation materials. A method of making a bioplastic composition includes the steps of heating a first aqueous mixture containing at least one plasticizer and at least one acid; adding at least one starch to the first aqueous mixture to produce a second aqueous mixture; heating and mixing the second aqueous mixture to produce a precipitate; and separating the precipitate from residual liquid of the second aqueous mixture to produce a bioplastic composition.

Formation of low-crystallinity curcumin nanoparticles via controlled supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO.sub.2) impregnation of curcumin into biodegradable nanoporous starch aerogels and methods of preparing these aerogels are disclosed. The nanoporous starch aerogels increase water solubility and bioaccessibility of the curcumin, thereby making them available for preparation of high nutraceutical value foods.

Described are very high molecular weight (e.g., over 2 million, such as 3-20 million g/mol) starch-based materials, and formulations including such, which can be spun in spunbond, melt blown, yarn, or similar processes. Even with such very high molecular weights, the formulations can be processed at commercial line speeds, with spinneret shear viscosities of 1000 sec.sup.−1, without onset of melt flow instability. The starch-based material can be blended with one or more thermoplastic materials having higher melt flow index value(s), which serve as a diluent and plasticizer, allowing the very viscous starch-based component to be spun under such conditions. The particular melt flow index characteristics of the thermoplastic diluent material can be selected based on what type of process is being used (e.g., spunbond, melt blown, yarn, etc.). The starch-based material may exhibit high shear sensitivity, strain hardening behavior, and/or very high critical shear stress (e.g., at least 125 kPa).

A modified starch product includes a quantity of particles, each having a starch core with an intermediate polymer coating and an exterior coating of a nano-silica. A method for manufacturing a modified starch product including admixing to a silicate and water to form a nano-silica solution; admixing an original starch and a polymer to form particles with a starch core having an intermediate polymer layer; admixing the nano-silica solution and the starch particles having an intermediate polymer layer to form a suspension of the modified starch product; dewatering the suspension of the modified starch product; and drying the modified starch product to form the modified starch having particles including the starch core with the intermediate polymer coating and the exterior coating of a nano-silica. A rubber formulation includes a quantity of elastomer and a quantity of the modified starch. The particles are substantially evenly distributed throughout the elastomer.

A plastic gel material for preventing spontaneous combustion of coal, including water, a crosslinking agent, a toughener, a coagulant, an aggregate and a water glass. The crosslinking agent (AlCit) is prepared by mixing a polyaluminum chloride solution and a citric acid solution then neutralizing the mixture with a sodium hydroxide solution. The coagulant is one or more of potassium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate or glucono-δ-lactone (GDL). The toughener is one or more of pregelatinized starch, sodium alginate, carboxymethyl cellulose or polyacrylamide. The aggregate is coal ash or bentonite. The plastic gel has good water retention, toughness and inhibition performance, and helps avoid easy cracking and pulverization in inorganic silica gel consolidating bodies after losing water. The plastic gel can cover the surface of burning coal mass, reduce the temperature of the ignition source, heat radiation and production amount of CO, and have a fire extinguishing effect.