A thermoplastic polymeric composition comprising starch, at least one synthetic thermoplastic polymer, and a plasticizer, wherein the starch and the polymer form a structure in which they are at least partially interpenetrated at the molecular level, said composition being obtained by melting at least part of the starch in the presence of the plasticizer, said plasticizer being:
- (a) a compound selected from the group consisting of R--CH.sub.2 --(CHR).sub.n --CH.sub.2 --R wherein n is an integer from 2 to 4, CH.sub.3 --CH.sub.2 --C(CH.sub.2 R.sub.).sub.3, C(CH.sub.2 R).sub.4, a vinylic polymer having repeating units of the formula --(CH.sub.2 CHR).sub.n -- wherein n is an integer from 3 to 20, and H(OCH.sub.2 --CHR--CH.sub.2).sub.n R wherein n is an integer from 2 to 10, wherein R is selected from the group consisting of:
- --O--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --H in which n is 1-18,
- --O--CH.dbd.CH--R.sub.1 in which R.sub.1 is H or --CH.sub.3,
- --O(--CH.sub.2 --CHR.sub.1 --O).sub.n --H in which R.sub.1 is H or CH.sub.3 and n is 1-20,
- --O--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --Ar in which Ar is a simple, substituted, or heterocyclic aromatic radical and n is 0-4,
- --OCO--H,
- --OCO--CR.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 in which the R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 groups are the same or different and are selected from H, Cl, and F,
- --OCO--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --H in which n is 2-18,
- --ONO.sub.2,
- --OPO.sub.3 M.sub.2 in which M is H, ammonium, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth, or an organic cation,
- --SO.sub.3 --Ar in which Ar is benzene or toluene,
- --OCO--CH(SO.sub.3 M)--COOM in which the Ms are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of H, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth, ammonium, and an organic cation,
- --OCO--B--COOM in which B is (CH.sub.2).sub.n where n is 1-6 or --CH.dbd.CH--, and M is H, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth, --(CH.sub.2).sub.n H where n is 1-6, or an aryl group,
- --OCONH--R.sub.1 in which R.sub.1 is H or an aliphatic or aromatic radical,
- --O--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --COOM in which n is 1-6 and M is H, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth, ammonium, or an organic cation,
- --O--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --COOR.sub.1 in which n is 1-6, R.sub.1 is H(CH.sub.2).sub.m -- where m is 1-6,
- --NR.sub.1 R.sub.2 in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and are H, CH.sub.3 --, CH.sub.3 CH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 OH, or a salified amino group,
- --O--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --NR.sub.1 R.sub.2 in which n is 1-4, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and are H, CH.sub.3 --, CH.sub.3 CH.sub.2 --, or --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 OH, and in which the amino group may be salified, ##STR5## --O--CH.sub.2 --CHOH--CH.sub.2 --NR.sub.1 R.sub.2 in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of H, H(CH.sub.2).sub.n where n is 1-6, and in which the amino group may be salified,
- --O--CH.sub.2 --CHOH--CH.sub.2 --R.sub.1.sup.+ Cl.sup.- in which R.sub.1.sup.+ is trialkylammonium, pyridinium, or picoline,
- --O--(CH.sub.2).sub.n R.sub.1.sup.+ Cl.sup.- in which n is 1-6 and R.sub.1.sup.+ is trialkylammonium, pyridinium, or picoline,
- --O--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --CN in which n is 1-6,
- --O--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --CONH.sub.2 in which n is 1-6,
- --O--(CH.sub.2).sub.m `SO.sub.2 --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --H in which m and n are the same or different and are 1-4,
- --SCSNH.sub.2,
- --O--SiX.sub.3 and --O--SiOX.sub.3 in which X may be an aliphatic or an aromatic radical, and
- hydroxyl,
- wherein at least one of the R substituents is different from hydroxyl;
- (b) compound of the formula:
- R--CH.sub.2 --(CHR).sub.n --CH.sub.2 --O--A--O--CH.sub.2 --(CHR).sub.m --CH.sub.2 --R (I)
- in which n and m have the same or different values from 1 to 6, the R groups are the same or different and have the meaning attributed to R in subparagraph (a) of this claim, and in which A is selected from the group consisting of:
- --CHR.sub.1 -- where R.sub.1 is H or H--(H--(CH).sub.n -- where n is 1-5,
- --(CH.sub.2).sub.n -- where n is 1-6,
- --(CH.sub.2 --O--CH.sub.2).sub.n where n is 1-20,
- --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --O).sub.n CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -- where n is 1-20,
- --OC--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --CO-- where n is 0-6,
- --OC--Ar--CO-- in which Ar is a heterocyclic aromatic radical,
- --PO.sub.2 --, and
- --CONH--(CH.sub.2).sub.n NHCO--;
- (c) a compound of the formula:
- R--CH.sub.2 (CHR).sub.n --CH.sub.2 --A--CH.sub.2 --(CHR).sub.m --CH.sub.2 --R (II)
- in which n and m are the same or different and are whole numbers from 1 to 6, the R groups are the same or different and have the meaning attributed to R in subparagraph (a) of this claim, and in which A is selected from the group consisting of --NH-- and --NH--(CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --NH).sub.n -- in which n is a whole number from 1 to 6;
- (d) a compound of the formula:
- ##STR6## in which the R groups are the same or different and have the meaning attributed to R in subparagraph (a) of this claim;
- (e) an aldohexose or a derivative thereof of the formula:
- ##STR7## or a ketohexose or a derivative thereof of the formula:
- ##STR8## in which the R groups are the same or different and have the meaning attributed to R in subparagraph (a) of this claim;
- or
- (f) a polyol oxidation product having from 1 to 20 repeating hydroxylated units each including from 2 to 6 carbon atoms including at least one aldehydic or carboxylic functional group or mixtures thereof.