The impact of esterification on the properties of starch/natural rubber composite

The starch was modified by esterification, and the starch/natural rubber composite was prepared by blending the modified starch with natural rubber latex. The morphology, thermal stability and mechanical properties of the composite were investigated. The results show that the crystal structure of starch in the composite disappears after modification with esterification, and the starch particles with an average size around 200 nm homogenously disperse throughout the natural rubber (NR) matrix. The thermal stability of composite is improved significantly after the modification with starch. The mechanical properties of composite are enhanced with the increase of starch loading. The composite possesses the best properties at the starch xanthate content of 20 parts per hundred rubber (phr). The enhanced thermal stability and mechanical properties of modified starch/NR composite are mainly due to the improved phase interface interactions between rubber and starch.