STARCH-BASED BIODEGRADABLE POLYMER MATERIALS: CURRENT STATE, PROPERTIES, TECHNOLOGIES AND FUTURE PROSPECTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30857/2786-5371.2026.4.5Keywords:
polymers, biopolymers, starch, thermoplastic starch, biodegradation, technologiesAbstract
Purpose. To systematize current scientific knowledge of biopolymers and biodegradable polymer materials, including their composition, processing approaches, and properties, with particular emphasis on starch as a readily available renewable raw material for producing thermoplastic starch-based films and composites.
Methodology. The review analyzes international scientific publications addressing biodegradable polymers, thermoplastic starch, plasticization and film formation, incorporation of fillers, crosslinking, as well as the mechanical and barrier properties and biodegradation of polymer materials.
Findings. The literature analysis confirms that the terms “biopolymer”, “bioplastic” and “biodegradable polymer” are not interchangeable. Starch has attracted attention as a renewable and readily available raw material capable of forming films; however, in its native state, it is brittle, hygroscopic, and exhibits limited thermoplasticity. Producing a thermoplastic material requires disruption of the granular structure of starch and weakening of intermolecular interactions through the action of heat, water, and plasticizers. In most of the studies reviewed, glycerol increased flexibility and elongation at break, whereas excessive glycerol content could reduce tensile strength and impair barrier properties. When properly dispersed, fillers and nanofillers (CaCO3, cellulose nanofibers, etc.) can increase tensile strength of the material and improve its barrier properties, while crosslinking with organic acids, in turn, can reduce water sensitivity and slow retrogradation.
Originality. Through a comprehensive analysis of current research addressing common processing challenges in starch-based materials, the review systematizes data on the relationships between the composition of starch-based polymer formulations, the methods used to form them, and their final mechanical, barrier, and water-related properties. The analysis shows that the effects of modifying starch-based materials should be assessed comprehensively rather than on the basis of individual parameters, taking into account the botanical origin of starch, the nature of the plasticizer, the type and concentration of the filler, and the processing conditions.
Practical value. The summarized data can be used to select an optimal formulation for starch-based films and appropriate methods for producing thermoplastic starch and composites intended for packaging and agricultural applications. Particular attention is paid to the distinction between the physical disintegration of a material and its complete biomineralization.
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