Development of foams based on starch and their application as eco-sustainable packaging

• Grant number: 02/07956-8
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: October 01, 2003
• End date: November 30, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Patrícia Ponce
• Grantee: Patrícia Ponce
• Company: CBPAK Embalagens Eco-Sustentáveis Ltda
• City: São Paulo

Abstract

The proposal is to develop a process for production on an industrial scale of expanded starch foams for biodegradable packaging. The main deficiency in the technology of current processes is the sensitivity of the product to liquids, which precipitate immediate biodegradation and the destruction of its mechanical properties. Starch’s ability to absorb water and its sensitivity to hydrolysis cause a big problem for large scale automatic production, as they make it difficult to formulate a stable raw material, which can yield reproducible expansion results. The project proposes the development of a starch foam with greater possible level of expansion, lower cost of production, totally soluble in water and biodegradable, preferably free from artificial additives, and also an adequate covering based on fatty and aqueous products. The processing equipment for the foam that will be designed and built by the project does not exist on the national or international market. (AU)

Filed patent(s) as a result of this research project