|Whitehurst, Garnett - WHITEHURST ASSOCIATES|
Submitted to: Pacific Polymer Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 16, 1995
Publication Date: N/A
Technical Abstract: With the increasing cost of petroleum-based products, natural polymer substitutes have an advantage of lower cost and biodegradability making them environmentally friendly. Commercial water-insoluble oxidized starches are batch-prepared utilizing ambient conditions and low concentrations of oxidant. Water-soluble oxidized starches possessing novel properties have been produced thermochemically. Methods of preparation, discussion of unique properties and potential applications will be presented. Economical and continuous processing yield a reactive biodegradable solid product. Recent discovered applications are: 1. sequestration of calcium, manganese and iron; 2. set retardation and water reduction in concrete formulations; and 3. replacement of phenol in formaldehyde phenol adhesives for wood. Other potential applications are: 1. builders for detergent formulations; 2. micronutrient chelators; 3. textile sizers; 4. metal and rust cleaners; and 5. cotton mercerizers.