LAUSR

Thermoplastic cassava starch (TPS)/silica (SiO2) composites were prepared through melt-mixing, and the effect of different SiO2 particle size (20 nm, 200 nm, and 23 µm) on the structure, morphology, and properties of TPS/SiO2 composites was investigated. TPS/SiO2 composite containing 200 nm SiO2 has the lowest plasticizing time and torque, and the highest tensile and impact strength. The 23 µm SiO2 particle has the strongest effect on promoting retrogradation of starch, while the 200 nm SiO2 particle could inhibit the retrogradation of starch. TPS/SiO2 composite containing 200 nm SiO2 has the highest thermal stability, resistant water absorption, and light transmittance. The 200 nm SiO2 particle could be uniformly and finely dispersed in the starch matrix, however 20 nm SiO2 particle easily aggregated in TPS. The spherulites size was uniform in TPS/SiO2 composite containing 200 nm SiO2. TPS/SiO2 composite indicates the mixture of A + V types of crystalline structure, and TPS/SiO2 composite containing 23 µm SiO2 had the largest crystal size.