starch

polymer

Starch is a natural biopolymer composed of glucose units, derived primarily from plant sources such as corn, potatoes, and wheat. It is a semicrystalline material that can be processed through gelatinization and plasticization to produce films, fibers, and molded parts with tunable mechanical properties. Starch-based materials are widely used in biodegradable packaging, food contact applications, and agricultural films where end-of-life compostability and environmental impact reduction are priorities; they compete with synthetic plastics (PE, PP, PET) in applications where cost and sustainability matter more than high-temperature performance or exceptional stiffness. The material is also explored in medical textiles, drug delivery matrices, and adhesive formulations, making it valuable for engineers designing eco-friendly alternatives or compostable consumer products.

biodegradable packaging filmscompostable food service wareagricultural mulch filmsmedical device coatingsdrug delivery matricesadhesive and binder systems

Compliance & Regulations

?UL 94?Conflict Free?RoHS?REACH?TSCA?Prop 65
Units:
siimperial
Property OverviewNormalized to typical max values
PropertyValueUnitConditionsSource
Compressive Strength(σc)
1.048
ksi—
Elongation at Break(εf)
74.47
-—
Flexural Strength (MOR)(σf)
6.627
ksi—
Hardness (Vickers)(HV)
838.3
HV—
Ultimate Tensile Strength(σUTS)
1.496
ksi—
Young's Modulus(E)
53.93
ksi—
Verified Unverified Low confidence (<80%) Link to source
PropertyValueUnitConditionsSource
Glass Transition Temperature(Tg)
138.4
°F—
Melting Point / Solidus(Tm)
336.1
°F—
Maximum Service Temperature(Tmax)
571.4
°F—
Verified Unverified Low confidence (<80%) Link to source
PropertyValueUnitConditionsSource
Refractive Index(n)
1.493
-—
Verified Unverified Low confidence (<80%) Link to source

Regulatory Screening

Environmental

Safety & Biocompatibility

RoHS, REACH, and Prop 65 statuses are validated against official substance lists (ECHA SVHC Candidate List, OEHHA Prop 65, RoHS Annex II). Other regulations are estimated from composition and material classification. All screening is a starting point for due diligence — always verify with your supplier before making compliance decisions.