Natural Rubber

The purpose of this study is to identify the potential of starch as bio-based thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). Starch based polymers have been recognized to have highly potential to replace existing source of conventional elastomeric polymers. The modification process of blending starch with natural rubber, plasticizers, additives, and filler contribute to the enhancement and improvement for the properties of starch in order to produce biopolymers by approaching the properties of TPEs. This research was based on the starch which is an abundant and naturally occurring polysaccharide. It used to prepare and evaluate edible biodegradable films of different starch sources namely potato starch, corn starch and oxidized corn starch. Biopolymers have been considered as the most promising materials for this purpose. Polymers that have recently attracted interest due to their highly modifiable material properties. Natural rubber obtained almost exclusively from the Para tree (Heveabrasilliensis) is a unique polymer in many significant applications. The use of plasticizers to process starch as thermoplastic polymer and the formulation of starch with other polymers are highlighted. Here we discuss the main results and developments innatural plasticizer/synthetic and biopolymer-based films.