Modification of clay materials with retrograded starch hydrogel

Abstract

This article is devoted to the study of the clay material modification with a natural polymer (starch). Authors given the assessment of starch thermal modifications, as well as their effect on the clay composite. Described the technology of a retrograded starch hydrogel (RSH) preparation. Investigated the influence of various RSH concentrations (2,5%; 5%; 7,5%; 10%) and its thermal conditions (150 °C for 3 h. and 5 h.) on the mechanical properties and structure of the clay composite. The experimental results showed that the clay strength tends to increase up to 74% with the increase of starch retrograded hydrogel concentration and its heat treatment time. It was found that the addition of RSH made the structure of the clay composite denser (bulk density increased up to 2,5%; shrinkage reduced for more than 1%). This modification method is very promising, since it combines both environmental friendliness and high mechanical properties of the final clay material.