Abstract:

In order to investigate the influence of hydrogen bonding on the starch nanofiber, starch nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/H2O solution system. The influence of hydrogen bonding on starch dissolution and starch fiber formation were studied. The surface morphology and structure of electrospun starch fiber were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction and tensile test. The results show that DMSO destroyed hydrogen bonds in starch molecules, which facilitates the dissolution of starch. With the increase of the water content in the solution system, hydrogen bonds will formed between water and hydroxyl groups on the starch chain. On one hand, the formation of hydrogen-bonding network structure in the solution system results in poor spinnability starch solution. On the other hand, for the electrospun fiber membrane, hydrogen bonds will be formed between water and the starch molecules, which will inhibit the free movement of molecular chains of the nanaofibers. This will result in increasing of the breaking strength and decreasing of the breaking elongation of the starch nanofibers.

Key words: starch fiber, hydrogen bonding, electrospinning, dimethyl sulfoxide/water