Polymer Institute
Topic
Advanced polymeric materials based on thermoplastic starch
PhD. program
Physical chemistry (Macromolecular chemistry), Technology of polymer materials
Year of admission
2024
Name of the supervisor
Mgr. Katarína Mosnáčková, PhD.
Contact:
Receiving school
Faculty of chemical and food technology STU
Annotation
The thesis will be focused on preparation and characterization of novel fully biodegradable polymeric systems based on thermoplastic starch (TPS), PLA and polymers based on poly(hydroxyalkanoates)- biodegradable polyesters from renewable resources. With respect to the TPS content, modified TPS will be added to the biodegradable polymer matrix as a filler as well as it will be used as a continuous phase. The project will be aimed at various types of native starch modification such as targeted addition, esterification, grafting and plastification in order to improve the sustainability of the physical and mechanical properties of the resulting materials. Modified starch will be used for preparation of TPS by addition of various plasticizers with the main goal of optimizing the TPS composition and processing conditions for achieving required mechanical properties such as higher strength and humidity resistance. Prepared materials will be investigated by determination of physical properties (tensile tests, DMTA, TGA, DSC), and using of spectral, and optical methods (FTIR, UV-VIS, SEM) allowing understanding of relations between composition, structure and properties of multiphase materials.