An example starch-based material for forming a biodegradable component includes a mixture of a starch and an expansion additive. The starch has an amylose content of less than about 70% by weight. The expansion additive enhances the expansion and physical properties of the starch. A method of preparing a starch-based material is also disclosed and an alternate starch-based material for forming a biodegradable component is also disclosed.

Extruded starch foams are well known as biodegradable alternatives to foamed polystyrene packaging materials. Extruded foams of unmodified starch replacing 1% to 20% of the starch with kraft lignin were prepared. At 10% lignin, there are no deleterious effects on foam density, morphology, compressive strength, or resiliency as compared to a starch extruded foam, yet the foam retains its integrity after immersion for 24 hours in water. At 20% lignin there is a decrease in compressive strength and resiliency. Addition of cellulose fibers restore the mechanical properties but with an increase in density.

The present invention provides a nanocomposite hydrogel and a preparation method thereof, and relates to the field of nanocomposite materials. The nanocomposite hydrogel is prepared by mixing completely gelatinized short amylose with an aqueous gelatin solution having a mass concentration of 8%-14%, and then cooling. The present invention utilizes the nanoparticles formed by in-situ self-assembly of the short amylose in the aqueous gelatin solution as a reinforcing agent, and the nanoparticles are uniformly distributed in the hydrogel to form a stable crystallization system, such that the prepared nanocomposite hydrogel exhibits optimal mechanical properties in terms of viscoelasticity, hardness, compressive stress, etc. The preparation process of the present invention is green and environmentally friendly, simple and efficient, and can be widely applied to the fields of food, cosmetics and medicine.

The present invention relates to coated particles in which vegetable wax is provided on the surface of starch particles. The coated particles have an average particle diameter d.sub.1 of 0.5 to 20 ?m and a maximum particle diameter d.sub.2 being less than 30 ?m and less than 4.0 times the average particle diameter d.sub.1. The vegetable wax is contained in an amount of 0.5 to 10.0 wt % in the coated particles. Accordingly, particles having excellent feel characteristics and water repellency can be achieved with a natural material having excellent biodegradability. A method for producing coated particles includes: a step of preparing a dispersion that contains 1 to 20 wt % of starch particles; a step of adding vegetable wax to the dispersion and heating and cooling the mixture to precipitate the vegetable wax on the surface of the starch particles; and a step of subjecting this dispersion to solid-liquid separation to obtain coated particles as a solid.

This application provides a method of using a highly clarified and clean lignin, derived from a specific biorefinery process to make a starch foam and products of the same. The lignin can be used as a low cost filler substitute for starch and other substrates that are currently employed in foam applications. The lignin has the right mechanical, physical, thermoplastic and barrier properties to enable easy handling and to impart improved properties such as UV resistance, water resistance and other physical parameters to starch foams.

Compostable polymer aerogels, processes and intermediate mixtures for their fabrication, and components formed therewith. The compostable polymer aerogels are made from biodegradable starch polymers and biodegradable plasticizers mixed with a biodegradable chemical initiator and polymerized with a biodegradable solvent to form a raw gel containing cross-linked polymer chains. The raw gel is aged in a sealed environment that prevents escape of the aqueous solvent from the raw gel and forms a hydrogel having a nanoporous skeletal structure. The hydrogel is saturated with an organic solvent, and the organic solvent is then removed from the hydrogel without collapsing the nanoporous skeletal structure to form the compostable polymer aerogel. The compostable polymer aerogels may be particularly useful for forming various aerospace components, such as various insulation and structural components, as well as myriad other products that might benefit from light weight and/or a nanoporous skeletal structure.