Inventors:
James E. Mark - Cincinnati OH, US
Brooke Zhao Peterson - San Jose CA, US
Burak Eman - Istanbul, TR
Ivet Bahar - Pittsburgh PA, US
Andrzej Kloczkowski - Rockville MD, US
Assignee:
The University of Cincinnati - Cincinnati OH
International Classification:
C07G017/00
B29C049/08
D02J001/06
US Classification:
536124, 106122, 264178 R, 2642888, 264340, 2642884, 521 841, 521 64
Abstract:
The present invention involves the synthesis of a series of amylose (starch) derivatives with various degrees of substitution and amylose/amylopectin ratios. These chains are chemically crosslinked and then mechanically deformed (stretched) to produce a biodegradable and mechanically superior material. Specifically, the process consists of chemically modifying starch into starch derivatives such as starch ethers, starch esters and starch carbamates. The polymers have a percentage degree of substitution of from about 35% to about 95% (degree of substitution is from about 1. 05 to about 2. 85) and preferably have a percentage degree of substitution of from about 65% to about 90% (degree of substitution is from about 1. 95 to about 2. 70). The starch derivatives are crosslinked to obtain crosslinked chains and processed into sheets, films, fibers, threads or other articles as known in the art.
