In recent years, much attention has been focused on biodegradable polymers from renewable resources. Due to its availability and low cost, starch is a promising candidate among biopolymers for use in biodegradable packaging materials and for other purposes. Starch-Based Polymeric Materials and Nanocomposites: Chemistry, Processing, and Applications presents the latest developments in starch chemistry, rheology, starch derivatives, starch-based nanocomposites, and their applications. Topics discussed include: The chemistry, microstructure, processing, and enzymatic degradation of starch The importance and role of starch as a gelling agent Plasticization and the role of plasticizers Various rheological techniques applied to starch-related products and the characteristics of starch dispersions Polymeric aspects of reactive extrusion (REX) and its use on starch and other biopolymers Cyclodextrins (CDs) and their industrial applications, and CD-based supramole and polymers The potential of starch in food packaging, edible packaging, feedstock for bioproducts, and industrial and consumer products The theoretical basis and derivation of the mathematical model for multicomponent systems and its solution algorithm The book also explores recent progress in biodegradable starch-based hybrids and nanomaterials and the incorporation of nanoparticles in starches to enhance their mechanical and thermal properties. The book concludes by discussing the use of biopolymeric nanoparticles (BNPs) in drug delivery and life cycle assessment (LCA) of starch-based polymeric materials for packaging and allied applications. With contributions from leading experts in academia and industry, this volume demonstrates the versatility of starch and its potential in a variety of applications.

It has been nearly a decade since the third edition of Engineering Properties of Foods was published, and food structure/microstructure remains a subject of research interest. In fact, significant developments have taken place in the area of high pressure processing (HPP), which has been approved for pasteurization of food by the Food and Drug Administration. Kinetic data related to HPP have proven important for validation of pressure-assisted pasteurization. Due to these developments, three new chapters have been added to the Fourth Edition: Food Microstructure Analysis Glass Transition in Foods Kinetics and Process Design for High-Pressure Processing The text focuses on elucidating the engineering aspects of food properties and their variations, supplemented by representative data. Chapters have been updated and revised to include recent developments. The book presents data on physical, chemical, and biological properties, illustrating their relevance and practical importance. The topics range from surface properties, rheological properties, and thermal properties to thermodynamic, dielectric, and gas exchange properties. The chapters follow a consistent format for ease of use. Each chapter contains an introduction, food property definition, measurement procedure, modeling, representative data compilation, and applications.

In recent years, much attention has been focused on biodegradable polymers from renewable resources. Due to its availability and low cost, starch is a promising candidate among biopolymers for use in biodegradable packaging materials and for other purposes. Starch-Based Polymeric Materials and Nanocomposites: Chemistry, Processing, and Applications presents the latest developments in starch chemistry, rheology, starch derivatives, starch-based nanocomposites, and their applications.

Topics discussed include:

• The chemistry, microstructure, processing, and enzymatic degradation of starch
• The importance and role of starch as a gelling agent
• Plasticization and the role of plasticizers
• Various rheological techniques applied to starch-related products and the characteristics of starch dispersions
• Polymeric aspects of reactive extrusion (REX) and its use on starch and other biopolymers
• Cyclodextrins (CDs) and their industrial applications, and CD-based supramole and polymers
• The potential of starch in food packaging, edible packaging, feedstock for bioproducts, and industrial and consumer products
• The theoretical basis and derivation of the mathematical model for multicomponent systems and its solution algorithm

The book also explores recent progress in biodegradable starch-based hybrids and nanomaterials and the incorporation of nanoparticles in starches to enhance their mechanical and thermal properties. The book concludes by discussing the use of biopolymeric nanoparticles (BNPs) in drug delivery and life cycle assessment (LCA) of starch-based polymeric materials for packaging and allied applications.

With contributions from leading experts in academia and industry, this volume demonstrates the versatility of starch and its potential in a variety of applications.