Starch was crosslinked with epichlorohydrin. Crosslinked starch-filled waterborne acrylate (CSWAC) films were prepared by blending this crosslinked starch with waterborne acrylate. The thermal and mechanical properties of these films were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), tensile strength and elongation test. The biodegradability was also studied by determination of reduced sugar products after enzymatic hydrolysis and the surface morphology was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The CSWAC film showed significantly higher tensile strength and elongation than those of starch-filled waterbonre acrylate (SWAC). The biodegradability of this film was higher than that of native starch-filled acrylate film, and was increased by the addition of crosslinked starch to the acrylate film.

The starch-filled waterborne acrylate (SWAC) films were prepared. The structures and properties of SWAC films were investigated by infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and strength test. The biodegradability of SWAC film was also studied by determination of reduced sugar products after enzymatic hydrolysis. The surface morphology of the SWAC film was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the tensile strength and elongation of SWAC film decreased with the increase of starch content. The SWAC film showed significantly higher water absorbed content than waterbonre acrylate film. The biodegradability of SWAC film increased as the content of starch increased. The biodegradation of starch in SWAC film by α-amylase was about 77% of that of pure starch.

The biodegradability of vinyl acetate acrylate resin and corn starch blend was studied by determination of the reduced sugars produced after enzymatic hydrolysis. The starch hydrolysis reaction by α-amylase was achieved within 5 minutes. Optimal ranges of temperature and pH for the starch hydrolysis by α-amylase were around 80 oC and 6.5-7.2, respectively. The biodegradability of the starch-filled acrylate films increased as the content of starch increased. The biodegradation of starch in the starch-filled acrylate film by α-amylase was about 48.6% of that of pure starch. This value of biodegradable starch-filled acrylate film gave a good result with enzymatic shortcut test. The surface morphologies of the starch-filled acrylate film after enzymatic hydrolysis were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).