Abstract

SOTO, Diana  and  OLIVA, Haydée. Methods for preparation of chemical and physical hydrogels based on starch: A review. Rev. LatinAm. Metal. Mater. [online]. 2012, vol.32, n.2, pp.154-175. ISSN 0255-6952.

Hydrogels from native starch, from its pure components (amylose and amylopectin) and from its derivatives are more attractive for some applications than synthetic hydrogels, mainly due to its biodegradability. In this work, some chemical and physical methods for hydrogels preparation are summarized. For the production of physical hydrogels, different strategies are presented based on hydrophobic interactions; charge interactions, hydrogenbonding and stereo-complexation. For the preparation of chemical hydrogels, the free radical grafting copolymerization of vinyl monomers induced by radiation or by chemical initiators is analyzed. Also, different ways for producing physical and chemical crosslinking are included. Furthermore, the production of hydrogelsnanocomposites is introduced as an alternative way to generate materials with improved properties.

Keywords : Starch; hydrogels; crosslinking; graft copolymerization.