Enhancement of thermoplastic starch final properties by blending with poly(ɛ-caprolactone)

•Thermoplastic starch with low ɛ-polycaprolactone (PCL) content was melt-processed.•Films by thermo-compression evidenced a good PCL distribution in starch matrices.•PCL addition decreased the glass transition temperature of starch materials.•Low concentration of PCL reduced water vapor permeability of starch films.•PCL improved starch films properties without compromising their biodegradability. Final properties of two thermoplastic corn starch matrices were improved by adding poly(ɛ-caprolactone), PCL, at 2.5, 5, and 10% w/w. One of the thermoplastic starch matrices was processed using water and glycerol as plasticizers (SG) and the other one was plasticized with a mixture of glycerol and sodium alginate (SGA). Blends were suitably processed by melt mixing and further injected. Films obtained by thermo-compression were flexible and easy to handle. Microstructure studies (SEM and FTIR) revealed a nice distribution of PCL within both matrices and also a good starch–PCL compatibility, attributed to the lower polyester concentration. The crystalline character of PCL was the responsible of the increment in the degree of crystallinity of starch matrices, determined by XRD. Moreover, it was demonstrated by TGA that PCL incorporation did not affect the thermal stability of these starch-based materials. In addition, a shift of Tg values of both glycerol and starch-rich phases to lower values was determined by DSC and DMA tests, attributed to the PCL plasticizing action. Besides, PCL blocking effect to visible and UV radiations was evident by the incremented opacity and the UV-barrier capacity of the starch films. Finally, water vapor permeability and water solubility values were reduced by PCL incorporation.