Preparation and Properties of Starch-Based Film Using N-(2-hydroxyethyl)formamide as a New Plasticizer

N-(2-hydroxyethyl)formamide (HF) was synthesized efficiently and used as a new plasticizer for corn starch to prepare flexible starch film. The hydrogen bond interaction between HF and starch was proved by Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR). By scanning electron microscope (SEM), starch granules were completely disrupted, and the homogeneous materials were obtained. The crystallinity of corn starch and HF-plasticized starch film (HSF) was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Water vapor permeability of HSF was higher than that of glycerol-plasticized starch film (GSF). The elongations at break of HSF were higher than those of GSF at relative humidity 33%.