Starch and starch derivatives in technical applications

Ongoing developments in the technical industries, showing an increasing dem and for natural, biodegradable raw materials, have resulted in new fields o f application for starch and its derivatives. A remarkable tendency towards the incorporation of natural components in polymer matrices is particularl y to be noticed in synthetic polymer chemistry. Due to its stability and po lyfunctionality sorbitol, a starch derived polyalcohol, is suitable to act as building block for the synthesis of polyurethanes, melamine resins and a lkyd resins, thus having a positive effect on their physical and chemical p roperties. In construction and building chemicals glucose syrups offer vari ous opportunities as functional components. In concrete glucose syrups are used as retarding agents to allow a delayed setting of the concrete under s evere process conditions. During the production of tiles and bricks glucose syrups are added as plasticizers to reduce cracking and deformation of the clay mass. Partial replacement of urea resins with glucose syrups in parti cle boards results in simplified manufacturing procedures and reduced forma ldehyde liberation. Starch and starch derivatives are biodegradable, non-to xic, water soluble products. Due to their reactivity and their various func tional properties they will continue to open new horizons for the technical industries.