# US 2017/0283579 A1 · Starch Nanocomposite Materials > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0283579 A1 - Document ID: US20170283579A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/629,073 - Filed: 2017-06-21 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2007-06-01 - Assignees: Plantic Technologies Ltd. - Applicants: Plantic Technologies Ltd. - Inventors: Kishan Khemani; Graeme Moad; Edmond Lascaris; Guoxin Li; George Simon; Jana Habsuda; Robert Shanks; Antonietta Genovese; Wasantha Gunaratne; Lance Nichols - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170283579A1 ## CPC - C08L 3/02: Starch; Degradation products thereof, e.g. dextrin - B29B 7/007: {for continuous mixing} - B29B 7/46: with more than one shaft - B29B 7/728: {Measuring data of the driving system, e.g. torque, speed, power, vibration (B29B7/724 takes precedence)} - B29B 7/823: {Temperature control} - B29B 7/826: {Apparatus therefor} - B29C 48/40: using two or more parallel screws {or at least two parallel non-intermeshing screws}, e.g. twin screw extruders - C08K 9/04: Ingredients treated with organic substances {(treated with macromolecular compounds C08K9/08)} - C08K 3/346: {Clay} - C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06) - B29B: PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09) ## Abstract In one aspect, the invention provides a substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material including starch and hydrophobically modified layered silicate clay. In another aspect, the invention provides packaging made from material including the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above. The nanocomposite material has improved mechanical and rheological properties and reduced sensitivity to moisture in that the rates of moisture update and/or loss are reduced. In another aspect, the invention provides a process for preparing the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above, including a step of mixing the starch in the form of an aqueous gel with the hydrophobic clay in a melt mixing device. In a further aspect, the invention provides a process for preparing the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material, including the steps of mixing the starch with the hydrophobic clay to form a masterbatch (hereinafter “the masterbatch process”) and mixing the masterbatch with further starch. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-15. (canceled) ### Claim 16 A substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material including starch and hydrophobically modified layered silicate clay, wherein said starch has an amylose content of greater than 50%. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material according to claim 16, wherein the starch comprises a derivatized starch. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material according to claim 17, wherein the derivatized starch includes esters and ethers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material according to claim 17, wherein the derivatized starch includes acetylated starch, starch succinate, carboxymethylated starch and hydroxyalkylated starch. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material according to claim 19, wherein the hydroxyalkylated starch is a hydroxypropylated starch. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material according to claim 16, wherein the nanocomposite material comprises between 0.1 and 5% by weight hydrophobically modified layered silicate clay. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material according to claim 16, wherein the hydrophobically modified layered silicate clay is clay modified by exchange with a surfactant comprising long chain alkyl groups. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material according to claim 22, wherein the surfactant comprises a mono- or di- C12-C22 alkylammonium ion. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material according to claim 23, wherein no polar substituents are attached to an alkyl chain of the mono- or di- C12-C22 alkylammonium ion. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material according to claim 16, including more than one hydrophobically modified layered silicate clay. ### Claim 26 (depends on 16) The substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material according to claim 16, wherein the nanocomposite material comprises 5 to 30% by weight of water based on the weight of the nanocomposite material. ### Claim 27 (depends on 16) The substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material according to claim 16, further including one or more plasticizers. ### Claim 28 (depends on 16) The substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material according to claim 16, further including one or more water-soluble polymers. ### Claim 29 (depends on 16) The substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material according to claim 16, further including one or more processing aids.