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Student paper

Strong, stronger, starch. Using biodegradable, starch-based plastics to create more sustainable foam films

Bachelor thesis or Master thesis

As part of your work, you will test various physical blowing agents such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen and blowing agent mixtures based on these to produce low-density starch foam films.

Foamed packaging films have become an integral part of everyday life. However, they are mainly made of fossil-based plastics and are often released into the environment. In addition, foamed materials are rarely recycled today, but are usually thermally recycled after a single use. The use of renewable and biodegradable raw materials such as thermoplastic starch (TPS) is one possible solution. However, the processing of TPS is severely restricted by its thermal and mechanical properties. Novel starch films are to be produced using the physical foam extrusion process by developing a suitable formulation and process.

Stuwi-Stärkeschaum© IKV
Production of fine-cell foam films based on thermoplastic starch

The work is related to this research project:

In the joint project “Starch foam film”, a biodegradable, thermoplastic material for the production of physically foamed films for the packaging and construction sector is being developed with various project partners from industry and research. The aim is to achieve the highest possible starch content (e.g. from wheat or potato starch) in the material. The foam films are produced physically in the foam extrusion process. The aim is to replace established fossil-based foam materials. At the end of its useful life, CO2-neutral recycling must also be ensured.

Objective:

The scope of the thesis can be individually adapted to a Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis. The aim is to investigate various starch-based thermoplastics with regard to their expansion behavior and foam properties as a function of the process control and blowing agent formulation in the foam extrusion process.

Your tasks:

  • You carry out research in the field of thermoplastic starch processing
  • You carry out foam extrusion tests and evaluate various TPS materials and different blowing agent formulations with regard to their resulting expansion behavior and foam properties
  • You analyze the foams produced in terms of cell size, cell homogeneity and cell density

Your profile:

Preferred study programs

  • Mechanical engineering / industrial engineering, specialising in mechanical engineering
  • Automation technology
  • General mechanical engineering
  • Computational Engineering Science (CES)
  • Materials science
  • Industrial engineering, specialising in materials and process engineering
  • Environmental engineering

If you are interested or have any questions on this topic, please feel free to contact me. You can contact us by phone or e-mail.