a b s t r a c t
To characterize the pea starch films reinforced with waxy maize starch nanocrystals, the mechanical,water vapor barrier and morphological properties of the composite films were investigated. The addi-tion of starch nanocrystals increased the tensile strength of the composite films, and the value of tensilestrength of the composite films was highest when starch nanocrystals content was 5% (w/w). The mois-ture content (%), water vapor permeability, and water-vapor transmission rate of the composite filmssignificantly decreased as starch nanocrystals content increased. When their starch nanocrystals contentwas 1–5%, the starch nanocrystals dispersed homogeneously in the composite films, resulting in a rela-tively smooth and compact film surface and better thermal stability. However, when starch nanocrystalscontent was more than 7%, the starch nanocrystals began to aggregate, which resulted in the surface ofthe composite films developing a longitudinal fibrous structure.