The TPS/CNF composites and neat TPS samples were
melt-compounded using a co-rotating twin-screw extruder
(ZSK-18 MEGALab, Coperion W&P, Stuttgart,
Germany) with an L/D ratio of 40. The extruder barrel
was equipped with two atmospheric vents and vacuum
ventilation in purpose to remove the vaporized water
from the material. Feeding of the materials was done
manually due to the small amounts of the prepared premixes
(200 g). The extrusion set-up together with the
screw configuration and the temperature profile is shown
in Fig. 2. The materials were extruded using a die with a
rectangular cross-section of 5 20 mm. The extrusion
set-up used was similar to an earlier study made in our
laboratory on thermoplastic starch reinforced with cellulose
nanocrystals.