Effect of fiber treatment/starch plasticization on structure and mechanical properties of biomass cushion packaging material

Excellent state of material molding and microstructure can enhance the physical properties of biomass packaging material based fiber and starch efficiently. Therefore, the main raw materials were further processed in this study and processing technologies were improved accordingly. Corn starch was plasticized by ethylene glycol and glycerol. Straw fiber was further processed through washing with water and alkaline treatment. Foam molding tests were conducted according to the different treatment combinations, so were the tests of static compression, tensile properties and packages stacking. The results of quantitative analysis showed that the treated materials had a more notable influence on the comprehensive performance. The optimum processing technology about raw materials corresponding to specific mechanical property is obtained according to the tests analysis. Through SEM analysis, the influence mechanism of starch, fiber processing on the micro-structure of material and outer physical and chemical properties were also studied.