Novel plastics that are biodegradable and made from renewable natural resources are currently being researched as alternatives to traditional petroleum-based plastics. One such plastic, thermoplastic starch (TPS) is produced from starch processed at high temperatures in the presence of plasticizers, such as water and glycerol. However, because of its hydrophilic nature, TPS exhibits poor mechanical properties when exposed to environmental conditions, such as rain or humidity. The overall objective of this thesis was to produce a thermoplastic starch based material with low water absorption that may be used to replace petroleum-based plastics. Three different methods for reducing water absorption were investigated, including the following: extrusion of starch with hydrophobic polymers, starch modifying chemicals, and citric acid/sorbitol as plasticizers. It was found that all methods reduced the water absorption of TPS.

Novel plastics that are biodegradable and made from renewable natural resources are currently being researched as alternatives to traditional petroleum-based plastics. One such plastic, thermoplastic starch (TPS) is produced from starch processed at high temperatures in the presence of plasticizers, such as water and glycerol. However, because of its hydrophilic nature, TPS exhibits poor mechanical properties when exposed to environmental conditions, such as rain or humidity. The overall objective of this thesis was to produce a thermoplastic starch based material with low water absorption that may be used to replace petroleum-based plastics. Three different methods for reducing water absorption were investigated, including the following: extrusion of starch with hydrophobic polymers, starch modifying chemicals, and citric acid/sorbitol as plasticizers. It was found that all methods reduced the water absorption of TPS.

O presente trabalho teve como proposta a preparação de amidos termoplásticos (TPS) e compósitos a partir de amido de arroz e subprodutos do processo de beneficiamento do arroz, no qual resulta em 20% de palha e 14% de grãos quebrados. Estudou-se o amido de arroz como nova fonte para preparação de termoplásticos, avaliou-se o efeito da incorporação de palha de arroz aos TPS a fim de superar as limitações apresentadas por estes tais como baixo desempenho mecânico e alta absorção de umidade, avaliou-se a possibilidade de preparação de termoplásticos diretamente dos grãos de arroz e quirera e investigou-se a influência das condições de processamento (tempo e temperatura) na preparação dos termoplásticos. O amido de arroz foi plasticizado com glicerol em proporções que variaram de 20 a 40%. Para os compósitos, o teor de reforço (palha) variou de 1 a 5% e o teor de glicerol foi fixado em 30%. Tanto os materiais de partida quanto os termoplásticos e compósitos obtidos foram caracterizados por MEV e difração de raios-X; quanto às propriedades térmicas por TG, DSC e DMTA; quanto às propriedades mecânicas por ensaio mecânico de tração. O comportamento frente à absorção de água também foi investigado. O estudo das condições de processamento foi feito com base nos resultados obtidos a partir da reometria de torque, difração de raios-X e MEV e demonstrou que a utilização de apenas uma das técnicas é insuficiente para determinação das condições de processamento que melhor contribuem para desestruturação do grânulo, mistura e homogeneização do TPS. Os TPS preparados a partir de amido de arroz e glicerol seguiram a mesma tendência de variação de suas propriedades em função do teor de plasticizante que os TPS preparados a partir de outras fontes de amido. Levando em consideração TPS preparados a partir de amido de mandioca, milho e batata, observa-se que os TPS preparados a partir de amido de arroz apresentaram a menor absorção de água. Em relação aos compósitos, a palha contribuiu para melhorar o desempenho mecânico, no entanto favoreceu o aumento da absorção de água. Foi possível obter termoplásticos preparados diretamente dos grãos de arroz (polido e integral) e da quirera. Em comparação com o TPS amido/glicerol, os TPS obtidos a partir dos grãos apresentaram maior cristalinidade, rigidez e temperatura de transição vítrea. No entanto, apresentaram menor estabilidade térmica, menor ductilidade e maior absorção de água. / This work aimed at preparation of thermoplastic starch (TPS) and composites from rice starch and byproducts of the beneficiation process of rice, which results in 20% of husk and 14% of broken grains. The rice starch was studied as a new source for preparing thermoplastics. The effect of incorporation of rice husk to the TPS was evaluated aiming to overcome the limitations presented by pure TPS such as poor mechanical properties and high moisture absorption. The preparation of thermoplastic directly from grain and broken rice was also studied. The rice starch was plasticized with glycerol in proportions ranging from 20 to 40%. For composites, the amount of husk ranged from 1 to 5% and glycerol content was 30%. The effect of processing conditions (time and temperature) in the preparation of thermoplastics were investigated. Starting materials, thermoplastics and composites were characterized by SEM and X-ray diffraction; the thermal properties by TG, DSC and DMTA; and mechanical properties by mechanical tests. The behavior in the water uptake was also investigated. The processing conditions study was based on the results obtained from the torque rheometry, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy and demonstrated that the use of only one technique is inadequate to determine the best processing conditions. The TPS prepared from rice starch and glycerol followed the same trend of variation of its properties as a function of plasticizer content when compared to TPS prepared from other starch sources. Considering TPS prepared from cassava starch, corn and potato, it was observed that the TPS prepared from rice starch presented a lower water uptake. For composites, husk has improved mechanical performance, but favors the increase in water uptake. It was possible to obtain thermoplastic prepared directly from grain rice (polished and integral) and broken grain. Compared to the starch/glycerol TPS, TPS obtained from the grains had higher crystallinity, and stiffness and glass transition temperature. However, had lower thermal stability, lower ductility and increased absorption of water.

Starch and microbial exo-polysaccharides produced by prokaryotes (i.e. Eubacteria and Archaebacteria) and eukaryotes (i.e. phytoplankton, fungi, and algae) are recognized as a permanent source of biopolymers for the packaging industry. However, the unsuitable mechanical properties for thermoplastic applications and/or high cost of production have restricted their generalized use. Fungal isolates of the genus Ophiostoma are able to produce exo-polysaccharides or protein-like compounds in a medium containing starch as the substrate. Various analytical techniques were used as an approach to investigate the interaction between starch and the fungal extracellular metabolites and the effect of the molecular-structural modifications on the functional properties of the materials. Native starches were used as control in all experiments. Analyses performed by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), which provides information related to the viscoelastic properties, showed that the storage modulus (E') increased substantially after the modification of the starch showing a process of chain stiffness. The determination of the glass transition temperature (Tg) by tan  and loss modulus (E'') peaks showed various thermal transitions indicating a complex molecular aggregation due to the potential presence of dissimilar amorphous polymers. Experiments performed in DSC confirmed the presence of the various thermal transitions associated to the Tg of these materials. The first derivative of mass loss with respect to temperature during the thermogravimetric (TG) analysis was slightly lower compared with native starches (at ~630 and 650°C). However, modified starches can withstand high temperatures showing residues up to 20% at 1000°C. Studies on the characterization of the flow properties of the polymers by capillary rheology showed in both samples a shear thinning behavior. The double logarithmic plot of the shear rate vs. shear viscosity produced a straight line and in consequence a power law equation was used to describe the rheological behavior ( = K'n). The results showed that in order to achieve the same shear rate (') in both samples (modified and native starches) it is necessary to apply a higher shear stress () in the fungal treated materials. As a result, the consistency power law index (n) decreased and the consistency value increased (K). The practical consequence is that the melting point of these polysaccharides shifted to higher temperatures. By using various analytical techniques (including chromatography, spectroscopy, spectrometry) it was found that these phenomena may be due to the interaction of starch with protein-like or exo-polysaccharides or both which may influence the viscosity, bind adjacent molecules (i.e. network-like) and restrict the molecular motion. Evidences of the presence of pendant groups attached to high molecular weight compounds were also found. This information will give guidance to further structural studies and it is intended to pave the way for a variety of industrial applications.

Starch and microbial exo-polysaccharides produced by prokaryotes (i.e. Eubacteria and Archaebacteria) and eukaryotes (i.e. phytoplankton, fungi, and algae) are recognized as a permanent source of biopolymers for the packaging industry. However, the unsuitable mechanical properties for thermoplastic applications and/or high cost of production have restricted their generalized use. Fungal isolates of the genus Ophiostoma are able to produce exo-polysaccharides or protein-like compounds in a medium containing starch as the substrate. Various analytical techniques were used as an approach to investigate the interaction between starch and the fungal extracellular metabolites and the effect of the molecular-structural modifications on the functional properties of the materials. Native starches were used as control in all experiments. Analyses performed by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), which provides information related to the viscoelastic properties, showed that the storage modulus (E') increased substantially after the modification of the starch showing a process of chain stiffness. The determination of the glass transition temperature (Tg) by tan  and loss modulus (E'') peaks showed various thermal transitions indicating a complex molecular aggregation due to the potential presence of dissimilar amorphous polymers. Experiments performed in DSC confirmed the presence of the various thermal transitions associated to the Tg of these materials. The first derivative of mass loss with respect to temperature during the thermogravimetric (TG) analysis was slightly lower compared with native starches (at ~630 and 650°C). However, modified starches can withstand high temperatures showing residues up to 20% at 1000°C. Studies on the characterization of the flow properties of the polymers by capillary rheology showed in both samples a shear thinning behavior. The double logarithmic plot of the shear rate vs. shear viscosity produced a straight line and in consequence a power law equation was used to describe the rheological behavior ( = K'n). The results showed that in order to achieve the same shear rate (') in both samples (modified and native starches) it is necessary to apply a higher shear stress () in the fungal treated materials. As a result, the consistency power law index (n) decreased and the consistency value increased (K). The practical consequence is that the melting point of these polysaccharides shifted to higher temperatures. By using various analytical techniques (including chromatography, spectroscopy, spectrometry) it was found that these phenomena may be due to the interaction of starch with protein-like or exo-polysaccharides or both which may influence the viscosity, bind adjacent molecules (i.e. network-like) and restrict the molecular motion. Evidences of the presence of pendant groups attached to high molecular weight compounds were also found. This information will give guidance to further structural studies and it is intended to pave the way for a variety of industrial applications.

O presente trabalho teve como proposta a preparação de amidos termoplásticos (TPS) e compósitos a partir de amido de arroz e subprodutos do processo de beneficiamento do arroz, no qual resulta em 20% de palha e 14% de grãos quebrados. Estudou-se o amido de arroz como nova fonte para preparação de termoplásticos, avaliou-se o efeito da incorporação de palha de arroz aos TPS a fim de superar as limitações apresentadas por estes tais como baixo desempenho mecânico e alta absorção de umidade, avaliou-se a possibilidade de preparação de termoplásticos diretamente dos grãos de arroz e quirera e investigou-se a influência das condições de processamento (tempo e temperatura) na preparação dos termoplásticos. O amido de arroz foi plasticizado com glicerol em proporções que variaram de 20 a 40%. Para os compósitos, o teor de reforço (palha) variou de 1 a 5% e o teor de glicerol foi fixado em 30%. Tanto os materiais de partida quanto os termoplásticos e compósitos obtidos foram caracterizados por MEV e difração de raios-X; quanto às propriedades térmicas por TG, DSC e DMTA; quanto às propriedades mecânicas por ensaio mecânico de tração. O comportamento frente à absorção de água também foi investigado. O estudo das condições de processamento foi feito com base nos resultados obtidos a partir da reometria de torque, difração de raios-X e MEV e demonstrou que a utilização de apenas uma das técnicas é insuficiente para determinação das condições de processamento que melhor contribuem para desestruturação do grânulo, mistura e homogeneização do TPS. Os TPS preparados a partir de amido de arroz e glicerol seguiram a mesma tendência de variação de suas propriedades em função do teor de plasticizante que os TPS preparados a partir de outras fontes de amido. Levando em consideração TPS preparados a partir de amido de mandioca, milho e batata, observa-se que os TPS preparados a partir de amido de arroz apresentaram a menor absorção de água. Em relação aos compósitos, a palha contribuiu para melhorar o desempenho mecânico, no entanto favoreceu o aumento da absorção de água. Foi possível obter termoplásticos preparados diretamente dos grãos de arroz (polido e integral) e da quirera. Em comparação com o TPS amido/glicerol, os TPS obtidos a partir dos grãos apresentaram maior cristalinidade, rigidez e temperatura de transição vítrea. No entanto, apresentaram menor estabilidade térmica, menor ductilidade e maior absorção de água. / This work aimed at preparation of thermoplastic starch (TPS) and composites from rice starch and byproducts of the beneficiation process of rice, which results in 20% of husk and 14% of broken grains. The rice starch was studied as a new source for preparing thermoplastics. The effect of incorporation of rice husk to the TPS was evaluated aiming to overcome the limitations presented by pure TPS such as poor mechanical properties and high moisture absorption. The preparation of thermoplastic directly from grain and broken rice was also studied. The rice starch was plasticized with glycerol in proportions ranging from 20 to 40%. For composites, the amount of husk ranged from 1 to 5% and glycerol content was 30%. The effect of processing conditions (time and temperature) in the preparation of thermoplastics were investigated. Starting materials, thermoplastics and composites were characterized by SEM and X-ray diffraction; the thermal properties by TG, DSC and DMTA; and mechanical properties by mechanical tests. The behavior in the water uptake was also investigated. The processing conditions study was based on the results obtained from the torque rheometry, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy and demonstrated that the use of only one technique is inadequate to determine the best processing conditions. The TPS prepared from rice starch and glycerol followed the same trend of variation of its properties as a function of plasticizer content when compared to TPS prepared from other starch sources. Considering TPS prepared from cassava starch, corn and potato, it was observed that the TPS prepared from rice starch presented a lower water uptake. For composites, husk has improved mechanical performance, but favors the increase in water uptake. It was possible to obtain thermoplastic prepared directly from grain rice (polished and integral) and broken grain. Compared to the starch/glycerol TPS, TPS obtained from the grains had higher crystallinity, and stiffness and glass transition temperature. However, had lower thermal stability, lower ductility and increased absorption of water.

Starch is a natural polymer occurring in the seeds, tubers and stems of many plants, including maize. It is a mixture of two polymers: linear amylose and highly branched amylopectin. The ratio and the molar masses of the two polymers depend on the starch source, giving rise to different starch properties. Thermoplastic starch (TPS) was obtained by gelatinising a dry-blend mixture of maize starch, water, plasticisers and additives in a single-screw laboratory extruder. The TPS formed is a translucent amorphous material that could be shaped into pellets and injection-moulded into a variety of articles, just like conventional plastics [Shogren et al., 1994]. The advantages of TPS are that it is cheap and fully biodegradable. However, because of its hydrophilic nature, its properties and dimensional stability are influenced by moisture (humidity). It is also not easily processed like conventional plastics and the freshly moulded material ages, i.e. its properties change over time. The latter is caused by retrogradational structural changes which include helix formation and the crystallisation that occurs above the glass transition temperature [Myllärinen et al., 2002]. The unacceptable physical and processing properties of TPS were improved by blending with other polymers. The objective of this work was to determine the effects of water and glycerol content and the starch source or type on the mechanical properties of maize-based TPS. In addition, the effect of gypsum filler and polyamides or polyvinyl butyral (PVB) as modifying agent was also investigated. The PVB was based on material recycled from automotive windscreens. As with the thermoplastic starch, the thermoplastic/polymer blends, e.g. polyvinyl butyral, were also prepared using a single-screw extruder. After pelletisation, the materials were conditioned at 30 °C and a relative humidity of 60%. Tensile test specimens were prepared by injection moulding. Samples were characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and tensile testing. The effect of environmental conditions (temperature and humidity or water submersion) on the ageing of the samples was investigated using tensile properties as a measure. Initial extrusion and moulding trials revealed that the TPS compounds were very difficult to process. Difficulties were encountered with feeding the dry blends into the compounding extruder. The moulded samples adhered strongly to the mould walls, especially the sprue part. These problems were overcome by adding 2,5% precipitated silica to improve the flowability of the dry blends and stearyl alcohol at ca. 1,5% as a processing aid. The latter performed as an external lubricant and mould-release agent. Nevertheless, for some compositions it was also necessary to use ‘Spray-and-Cook’ as mould-release agent during injection moulding. The results show that HiMaizeTM, a high-amylose maize starch, provided the best properties in TPS and its blends. Further improvements in properties were obtained by blending with low-molecular-weight hot-melt adhesive-grade polyamides (Euremelt 2138 and 2140), engineering polyamide (EMS Grilon CF 62 BSE) or low amounts of PVB. The properties of all the compounds investigated were affected by moisture content and also by ageing. The TPS-PVB blends showed highly non-linear composition-dependence. SEM and DMA revealed a phase separation for all the TPS-PVB blend compositions investigated. The tensile properties were negatively affected by ageing in a high-humidity environment and they deteriorated rapidly when the samples were soaked in water. Synergistic property enhancement was observed for a compound containing 22% thermoplastic starch. It featured a higher tensile strength, showed better water resistance and was significantly less affected by ageing. At higher PVB levels, the property dropped to values that were lower than expected from the linear blending rule. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Chemical Engineering / unrestricted

Properties of plasticized thermoplastic com and pulse starches and their blends with poly (lactic acid) (PLA) were studied. Water and glycerol acted as plasticizer components for a ratio of starch/glycerol/water (wt/wt) fixed at 50/36/14 based on previous studies. PLA was used in blends to improve the properties of thermoplastic starch (TPS). Maleic anhydride (MA) was used as a coupling agent to increase the miscibility of PLA and TPS phases. Cloisite 30B, a type of organoclay, was added into the material system to improve the properties of blends. In order to enhance the hydrophobicity, alkyl ketene dimmer (AKD), used as a sizing agent, were introduced to material system. Both internal and surface sizing methods were applied. Measurements of rheological and mechanical properties were performed on a Rosand capillary rheometer and Instron tensile testing machine. The thermal and morphological properties of blends were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy. The contact angles were measured using a goniometer equipped with a video camera and a computer with drop shape analysis software for calculating the contact angles. The use of maleic anhydride as a coupling agent significantly improved the tensile strength and modulus of blends and the blend morphologies were more homogeneous. Improvements in tensile strength and modulus were achieved as Cloisite 30B nanoclay was used as a filler in TPS/PLAgMA blends. Some hydrophobicity was obtained for blends with Cloisite 30B. Blends ofTPS/PLAgMA/clay showed shear-thinning behaviors at 150°C . . / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

O crescente uso do amido como um material termoplástico tem despertado o interesse por esse polímero especialmente devido sua biodegradabilidade e por ser obtido de fontes renováveis. Porém suas propriedades mecânicas inferiores e a alta sensibilidade a umidade têm limitado sua utilização em diversas aplicações. O desenvolvimento de blendas poliméricas tem sido uma boa alternativa para obtenção de novos materiais à base de amido com suas propriedades melhoradas. Blendas de amido termoplástico (TPS) e poli(álcool vinílico-co-etileno) (EVOH), com 27 e 44%mol de etileno, foram obtidas em uma extrusora de rosca simples. O TPS foi produzido pela mistura de amido de milho e glicerol como plastificante (70:30). Para a obtenção das blendas foram acrescentados 5, 10 e 15% (m/m) do EVOH27% e EVOH44%, obtendo assim 6 blendas de diferentes composições. As técnicas de análise térmica dinâmico mecânica (DMTA), espectroscopia de infravermelho por transformada de Fourier (FTIR) e de microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) foram empregadas para a verificação de possível miscibilidade da mistura. A existência de uma única Tg nas blendas foi um indicativo de um sistema miscível, porém os espectros de infravermelho não apresentaram deslocamento de bandas sendo muito semelhantes ao espectro soma que indica um material totalmente imiscível, nas imagens obtidas pelo MEV não ficou evidente a presença de duas ou mais fases, porém podem ter sido disfarçadas devido à similaridade da morfologia de ambos materiais. As análises termogravimétricas (TGA) não mostraram alterações na estabilidade térmica das blendas. A técnica de difração de raios-X mostrou que não houve um aumento significativo na cristalinidade das blendas em relação ao TPS. As blendas condicionadas em ambientes com umidades relativas controladas apresentaram redução na absorção de umidade e no coeficiente de difusão de água com o aumento do teor de EVOH e de etileno na sua composição. Com o aumento do teor de EVOH, foi observado um aumento na resistência mecânica à tração das blendas e uma redução no alongamento na ruptura e no módulo de elasticidade quando comparados com o TPS puro. / The increasing use of starch as a thermoplastic material has aroused interest in this polymer especially due to its biodegradability and because it is obtained from renewable sources. However, its lower mechanical properties and the high sensitivity to humidity have limited its use in several applications. The development of polymer blends has been a good alternative to obtain new starch-based materials with their properties improved. Blends of thermoplastic starch (TPS) and poly (vinyl alcohol-ethylene) (EVOH) with 27 and 44 mol% of ethylene were obtained in a single-screw extruder. TPS was produced by mixing corn starch and glycerol as plasticizer (70:30). To obtain the blends, 5, 10 and 15% (w/w) of EVOH27% and EVOH44% were added, thus obtaining 6 blends with different compositions. Mechanical dynamic thermal analysis (DMTA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques were used to verify the potential miscibility of the mixture. The existence of a single Tg in the blends was an indicative of a miscible system, but the infrared spectrum did not show bands displacement being very similar to the spectrum sum that indicates a totally immiscible material, in the images obtained by SEM it was not evident the presence of two or more phases, but may have been masked due to the similar morphology of both materials. The thermogravimetric analyzes (TGA) did not show changes in the thermal stability of the blends. The X-ray diffraction technique showed that there was no significant increase in the crystallinity of the blends compared to TPS. Conditioned blends in environments with controlled relative humidity showed a reduction in moisture absorption and water diffusion coefficient with increasing EVOH and ethylene content in their composition. The mechanical properties of the blends showed an increase in tensile strength with increasing EVOH and ethylene content, but the elongation at break and modulus of elasticity were reduced when compared to pure TPS.

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo estudar o amido termoplástico (TPS) proveniente de batata e suas blendas com os polímeros biodegradáveis da classe dos poli (hidroxialcanoatos), como o homopolímero Poli (β-hidroxibutirato) (PHB) e o copolímero Poli (β-hidroxibutirato-co-valerato) (PHBV). Para tanto, foram desenvolvidas formulações de TPS, TPS/PHB, TPS/PHBV, TPS/PHBV, TPS/PHB/PHBV e dos próprios polímeros. Os teores de poli(hidroxialcanoatos) nas misturas foram iguais a 25, 50 e 75%. O TPS e as blendas foram preparados via mistura física dos polímeros base com água e glicerol. O estudo da plasticização do amido com 30 % de glicerol foi realizado em um misturador intensivo e os parâmetros de processo determinados (160°C, 10 min e 60 rpm) mostraram-se eficientes para a obtenção do termoplástico TPS. Os ensaios de absorção de água revelaram que o TPS pode apresentar ganho de massa de até 37%. As blendas preparadas com maiores teores do polímero (PHB e/ou PHBV) apresentaram maior resistência à absorção de água. A análise termogravimétrica (TG) das blendas revelou a existência de dois estágios de perda de massa, correspondentes à degradação do TPS e aos poliestéres. Dados de calorimetria demonstraram que o amido de batata possui teor de amilose de 23,6%. A curva DSC das blendas foram observados dois eventos térmicos endotérmicos, sendo o primeiro relacionado à saída de água e glicerol do TPS e o segundo correspondente à fusão do PHB e/ou PHBV. A análise por microscopia eletrônica de varredura evidenciou a presença de grãos de amido residuais nas formulações contendo maiores conteúdos de PHB e/ou PHBV. A análise térmica dinâmico-mecânica do TPS revelou a ocorrência de dois picos em tan δ, sendo o primeiro correspondente a transições na fase rica do plasticizante glicerol e um segundo pico definido como Tg do amido plasticizado. Os Ensaios Mecânicos de Tração mostraram para a amostra TPS o maior valor de deformação máxima, menor valor de módulo de elasticidade e baixo valor de tensão máxima, quando comparado às blendas TPS/PHB, TPS/PHBV e TPS/PHB/PHBV. O comportamento do TPS mostrou-se fortemente influenciado pelo teor de água presente na amostra. / The aim of this work was the study of thermoplastic starch (TPS) prepared from potato and its blends with biodegradable polyhydroxyalcanoates as homopolymer - Poly (β-hydroxibutirate) (PHB) and/or copolymer - Poly (β-hydroxybutirate-co-valerate) (PHBV). To reach the objectives of this study, there were developed formulations of TPS, TPS/PHB, TPS/PHBV, TPS/PHBV, TPS/PHB/PHBV and of the polymers themselves. The content of polyhydroxyalcanoates in the mixtures were 25, 50 and 75 %. The TPS and the blends were prepared by physical mixture of the polymers with water and glycerol. The study of starch\'plasticization, performed with 30 % of glycerol, was carried out in an intensive mixer and the determined parameters of the process (160°C, 10 min and 60 rpm ) were effective for the production of the parent thermoplastic starch. The water absorption tests showed that the TPS can present gain of mass up to 37 %. The blends prepared with higher amounts of the polymer (PHB and/or PHBV) presented higher resistance to the absorption of water. Thermogravimetric analysis (TG) of the blends revealed the existence of two mass loss stages, correspondents to the degradation of TPS and the polyesters. Data from calorimetry (DSC) demonstrated that the potato starch present 23.6% of amylose. The traces of DSC from TPS revealed only events related to the elimination of water and glycerol. For the blends two thermal endothermic events were observed. The first one corresponds to the elimination of water and glycerol from TPS and the second to the melting of the PHB and/or PHBV. The analysis performed by using scanning electron microscopy showed the presence of residual grains of starch in the formulations containing 50% or higher amounts of PHB and/or PHBV. The Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis of TPS revealed the occurence of two tan δ peaks, being the first one correspondent to transitions in the glycerol rich phase and a second peak described as Tg of the plasticized starch. The Mechanical Tests showed for the TPS sample the highest value of elongation, the lower value of tensile strength and a low value of Young\'s modulus, when compared to the blends TPS/PHB, TPS/PHBV and TPS/PHB/PHBV. The behaviour of the TPS appeared strongly influenced by the content of water in the samples.