Resumen

VILLADA, Héctor S; ACOSTA, Harold A  y  VELASCO, Reinaldo J. Research on Thermoplastic Starches, Biodegradable Products Precursors. Inf. tecnol. [online]. 2008, vol.19, n.2, pp. 3-14. ISSN 0718-0764.  doi: 10.4067/S0718-07642008000200002.

This paper presents a review focused on the understanding of the concepts behind the term Thermoplastic Starch -TPS to facilitate the development of biodegradable products. The literature review covered in this work is grouped into six categories: sources, characteristics and uses of starches; fusion and mechanisms of transformation; plasticizing properties and verification process; chemical and biochemical changes; aging and biodegradation; and mixtures for the development of new materials. This categorization allows understanding the advances in this field over the past fifteen years, as well as major challenges for the future, being the most important reducing the sensitivity to moisture and retarding the retrogradation of the thermoplastic matrix.

Palabras clave : thermoplastic starch; plasticization; precursors; biodegradable.