STARCH POLYMER BLENDS

Cellulose, certain proteins, and rubber are natural polymers long exploited industrially as load bearing solids, and are all capable of biodegradation either by direct enzyme scission or, in the case of natural rubber, by oxidative scission followed by biological metabolisation. Starch, a natural polymer of comparable industrial standing as judged by tonnage production, has not been regarded traditionally as an element of the plastics industry despite its comparable mechanical properties, attractive economics, and useful particulate form. The urgency of providing materials with low energy demands from renewable resources, which also offer biodegradability as an option in waste disposal not conflicting with recycling or incineration activities, has served to promote starch blends and alloys in polymer applications which have already achieved a significant position in world markets.