The Fracture Behavior and Mechanical Performance of Biodegradable Cornstarch Plastic Composites

The principle of filler addition as a means of preventing crack initiation and propagation was demonstrated by the addition of cellulose and soy protein isolate (SPI) to a common cornstarch matrix. The effects of cellulose and SPI fillers as anti-crack agents in high-amylose starch plastics were not obvious, but the tensile strength and elastic modulus of the high-amylose cornstarch/cellulose composite were 8106 psi and 201 ksi, respectively, which are greater than those of polypropylene. Comparison of the materials' tensile strength, strain and total energy-to-break to the roughness of the fracture surfaces obtained by three-dimensional reconstruction revealed a relatively positive correlation, meaning that as the fracture surfaces appear rougher and more characteristically like ductile fractures, the stronger, more ductile and tougher the materials.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Food Science and Human Nutrition

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Domingo, Bernadette Joy

Contributors dc:contributor

• Scott A. Morris

• Plastics Technology

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI9953192

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/83741