Modified polysaccharides as new commodity materials and for light-converting systems

Potato starch (PS), also one amylose-rich starch (high amylose maize starch, HAMS) and one amlyopectin-rich starch (waxymaize starch, WMS) were used for the syntheses as raw materials. Starch acetates were synthesized by reaction with acetic acid anhydride and potassium carbonate as activator. Tests of thermoplastic processability of the starch acetates were performed by extrusion followed by injection molding to specimens. Glycerine triacetate (triacetin, TAc) was attached as plasticizer to starch acetate. For this system a processing procedure was acquired under variation of different parameters. Starch- and cellulose-based films containing inorganic luminescent quantum dots, namely europium doped yttrium vanadate (YVO4:Eu) and cerium and terbium doped lanthanum phosphate (LaPO4:Ce,Tb) as well as an organic laser dye (naphthaldiimide, LV 570) were prepared by tape casting and air brush technique. Under UV-light exposure, they show a bright fluorescence radiation depending on the incorporate dye or quantum dot.