The invention relates to a method for producing a biodegradable thermoplastic starch-based article intended to come into contact with foodstuffs. In this method, the semi-crystalline starch granules are transformed into a homogeneous and almost amorphous material, called thermoplastic starch, by the addition of plasticizers at high temperatures and under shear. Thermoplastic starch is modified with organic acid during melt processing to prevent the retrogradation of starch. Moreover, cellulose derivatives are used as the reinforcement filler of thermoplastic starch. The article is produced using hot-pressing and then coating by immersion in a waterproofing solution.

Pitch granules including a core made up of a first composition including at least one pitch, the composition having a penetrability at 25° C. of 0 to 45 1/10 mm, a ring-and-ball softening temperature (TBA) of 55° C. to 175° C., understanding the penetrability as measured according to standard EN 1426 and the TBA as measured according to standard EN 1427, and a layer encapsulating at least one portion of the surface of the core, the layer being made up of a coating composition including at least one anti-caking agent.

A thermoplastic starch (TPS)/polylactic acid (PLA)/poly(butylene adipate-co -terephthalate) (PBAT) blend modified biodegradable resin is prepared by using a chain extender, and is prepared from the following raw materials: 20-30 parts by weight of TPS; 20-30 parts by weight of PLA; 40-60 parts by weight of PBAT; and 0.5-0.9 parts by weight of a chain extender KL-E. The preparation method is a two-step method: blending the TPS with the PBAT in a twin screw for granulating; mixing TPS/PBAT mixed granules with PLA granules, and dissolving the chain extender KL-E into an ethyl acetate solution. The chain extender KL-E can be uniformly distributed in PLA and TPS/PBAT mixed granules by using a spraying method, and the remaining short-chain molecules and terminal carboxyl molecules in the mixed granules can be changed into long-chain molecules.

Disclosed are methods of synthesizing organic-inorganic aerogel composites. The method comprises the steps of providing a cellulose component, derived from a plant based material, dispersed in an aqueous medium, adding a water soluble binder and a water soluble polymer to the aqueous medium to form a first mixture, forming a silica component, which is derived from a plant based silicate material, in situ when contacted with the first mixture for a predetermined time and condition to form a second mixture, gelling the second mixture and drying the second mixture to form an organic—inorganic aerogel. Also disclosed are organic-inorganic aerogel composites and their uses thereof. In particular, the organic-inorganic aerogel composites may have applications in thermal insulations, acoustic insulations and/or oil absorption.

The present disclosure relates to a barrier composition comprising a modified or unmodified starch, a plasticizer, and an MFC, and to a method for producing the barrier composition and the use thereof, such as in a multi-layer structure comprising the barrier composition and a carrier layer. Methods for producing a multi-layer structure comprising a barrier composition are also disclosed, and can be applied in order to obtain an article that comprises the multi-layer structure.

A packaging film is provided. The packaging film includes a polymer matrix composed of poly (butylene succinate) (PBS), and a modified tapioca starch (TPS), where a weight ratio (w/w) of the PBS to the TPS is in a range of 3:2 to 2:3. The packaging film also includes an antimicrobial composite including an organometallic compound dispersed within the polymer matrix. The packaging film has a water vapor permeability in a range of 94,000-95,000 micrometer gram per second per square meter per pascal (g.Math.μm/m.sup.2.Math.s.Math.Pa). A method to prepare the packaging film is also disclosed. The packaging films of the present disclosure prevent or inhibit the growth of gram-positive bacteria and gram-negative bacteria, particularly on food surfaces.

Provided are a water-soluble film that causes less deformation of the package during storage, while maintaining excellent solubility in water, and is capable of suppressing the occurrence of tears and the like, a production method thereof, and a package using the water-soluble film. A water-soluble film of the present invention includes a polyvinyl alcohol resin. The water-soluble film has an amount (A1) of crystalline component of 60% or less and an amount (A2) of constrained amorphous component from 10% to 50%, the amounts being obtained from a spin-spin relaxation curve by .sup.1H pulse NMR measurement of the water-soluble film in deuterated methanol. A ratio (A1/A2) of the amount (A1) of crystalline component to the amount (A2) of constrained amorphous component is preferably from 0.1 to 5.

The present invention provides a monolayer base film for hydraulic transfer printing that is excellent in water solubility and allows high resolution transfer printing without rupture even in high speed printing and a film for hydraulic transfer printing using the same. The present invention is a base film for hydraulic transfer printing comprising a polyvinyl alcohol resin, the base film forming a printing layer to be transferred to an article by hydraulic transfer printing. In this base film for hydraulic transfer printing, the base film for hydraulic transfer printing has an amount (A1) of crystalline component of 60% or less and an amount (A2) of constrained amorphous component from 10% to 50%, the amounts being obtained from a spin-spin relaxation curve by .sup.1H pulse NMR measurement of the base film in deuterated methanol, and a moisture content from 1 to 5 mass %.

Described herein are methods for increasing strength of blown films, by forming the films using a film blowing apparatus where the film is formed from a blend of a first polymeric material and a renewable carbohydrate-based polymeric material having particular characteristics. By using such a blend, and ensuring that the film blowing apparatus is operated at a high blow up ratio of at least 2.0, and/or using a narrow die gap of no more than 500 microns, Applicant has discovered that increased strength in the film can be obtained, as compared to where (i) the renewable carbohydrate-based polymeric material is not included or (ii) where the film is blown at lower blow up ratios and/or wider die gaps.

The present invention relates to a pellet for manufacturing water-soluble articles comprising: at least one polyvinyl alcohol; at least one vegetable oil; at least one modified starch; optionally at least one protein.