Centrifugally spun starch-based fibers from amylopectin rich starches

• The centrifugal spinnability of amylopectin rich starches was studied.
• Entanglement concentration ce was significantly affected by amylopectin content.
• The ce value of starch solution played a decisive role in centrifugal spinning.
• Starch-based fibers formed easily when critical concentration c* reaches.

Centrifugal spinning and electrospinning have proved to be effective techniques for fabricating micro-to-nanofibers. However, starches of amylopectin content above 65% cannot be fabricated to fiber by electrospinning. This paper is focus on the centrifugal spinnability of amylopectin rich starches. We investigated the amylopectin content of starches by Dual-wavelength colorimetry, studied the rheological properties of starch dopes to determine entanglement concentration (ce) by rotary rheometer. Results indicated that amylopectin rich native corn and potato starches, which with amylopectin content higher than 65%, were suitable for centrifugal spinning to micro-to-nanofibers. Additionally, starch-based fibers were successfully fabricated from the amylose rich corn starch as well. Rheological studies showed that the entanglement concentration (ce) of starch solution was crucial for successful centrifugal spinning.