Investigation of the synthesis, structure, and thermal properties of starch-modified biopolymers

Abstract

The growing demand for environmentally friendly and biodegradable materials has stimulated extensive research into the development of starch-based biopolymers as sustainable alternatives to conventional petroleum-derived plastics. In the present study, a starch-modified biopolymer was synthesized through a controlled modification process aimed at improving its structural stability and thermal performance. The synthesized material was comprehensively characterized to investigate its physicochemical, structural, and thermal properties. Structural analysis was carried out using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to identify functional groups and confirm the successful modification of the starch matrix. Morphological and structural features were further evaluated through complementary analytical techniques, providing insight into the interactions between starch molecules and modifying agents. The thermal behavior of the synthesized biopolymer was examined using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), allowing the determination of thermal stability, degradation characteristics, and phase-transition behavior. The obtained results demonstrated that the modification process significantly enhanced the thermal resistance and structural integrity of the biopolymer compared with native starch. The modified material exhibited improved thermal stability, reduced moisture sensitivity, and favorable physicochemical characteristics, indicating its potential suitability for various industrial applications. These findings contribute to the development of sustainable biopolymer materials and provide valuable information for their future utilization in packaging, agricultural, biomedical, and environmentally friendly engineering applications.