Mechanical Properties of Starch-Based Nanocomposites

This chapter reports the mechanical properties of starch‐based nanocomposite materials, considering that the starchy material can be used either as the continuous polymeric phase (matrix), or the nanodispersed phase (filler), or both. The first section of the chapter discusses the reinforcing effect of the different fillers used to improve the mechanical properties of thermoplastic starch, that is, inorganic clays, carbon nanotubes, and polysaccharide‐based (cellulose, starch) nanoparticles and attempts to give a critical comparison of the different reinforcements The second section talks about the reinforcing effect of starch nanocrystals, as well as the mechanisms proposed to explain it.