Biodegradable Composite Materials Based on Potato Starch and Polyvinyl Alcohol

The design and production of biodegradable composite materials that are similar to polymers from petroleum products in performance characteristics, but at the same time have a biodegradable ability, is one of the ways to solve the environmental problem associated with the polymer waste disposal. Scientists around the world are conducting research on obtaining a biodegradable composite material from organic raw materials. The composition development of composite materials includes the optimal ratio selection of fillers, plasticizer and solvent. The material preparation technology involves the raw materials preparation, the mixing order at given temperatures, and the suspension drying until a film structure is formed. The study aimed at preparing samples of biodegradable composite materials based on potato starch and polyvinyl alcohol in different ratios and to study their structure, water absorption, vapor permeability, and mechanical properties. As a result of processing the experimental data, the authors determined that sample of a biodegradable composite material with a 5:1 ratio of starch and polyvinyl alcohol had the best values for water absorption and vapor permeability. Sample 4 demonstrated the best strength characteristics values (a 4:2 ratio of starch and polyvinyl alcohol). There are microphotographs of surface samples in the work, proving the fact that for samples containing potato starch and PVA in 5:1 and 5:2 ratio, the surface is more uniform, the amount of seals is small. Decrease in the polyvinyl alcohol content leads to the increase in the surface defects number. A man can use the resulting biodegradable composite materials to the film packaging materials development to solve environmental problems with the polymer waste disposal.