Yokesahachart and Yoksan
[6]
studied TPS blends with
poly(lactic acid), and both the mechanical properties and
processability of the blend improved with higher concen-
trations of PLA. Ke and Sun
[7]
studied TPS/PLA blends and
evaluated the effect of the initial moisture content of the
starch(0 to 40%) on the thermal and mechanical properties.
The authors observed that moisture did not signi
fi
cantly
affect the mechanical properties and transition tempera-
tures of the blends. On the other hand, on increasing the
starch moisture in the blends, an increase in water
absorption was observed. In a previous study
[8]
, our
research group produced
fi
lms from TPS/PLA blends (90:10,
80:20 and 70:30 w:w) and there was an increase in tensile
strength and reduction in water vapor permeability with
increasing concentration of PLA.
Several studies have shown that coatings improve the
mechanical properties and water vapor barrier of starch
film
coated starch
films by immer-sion in zein solution. The
films were mechanically stronger
and showed lower water solubility than
films without zein,
because zein is more hydrophobic than starch. Bangyekan