Synthesis and characterization of thermoplastic starch-based composites reinforced with i-Al64Cu23Fe13 quasicrystal

Synthesis and characterization of thermoplastic starch-based composites reinforced with i-Al64Cu23Fe13 quasicrystal | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Synthesis and characterization of thermoplastic starch-based composites reinforced with i-Al64Cu23Fe13 quasicrystal Edgard Humberto Saccsa Mejía, José Alberto Castañeda-Vía, Antony Alexander Neciosup-Puican, and 2 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8613755/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 17 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Thermoplastic starch-based (TPS) composites represent a promising alternative to synthetic plastics due to their biodegradability and potential to address plastic waste pollution. However, pure TPS without additives or reinforcements lack sufficient mechanical, thermal, or functional properties compared to petroleum-derived plastics and even commercial bioplastics. This work explores the use of an Al 64 Cu 23 Fe 13 icosahedral quasicrystal as a reinforcement within a starch matrix to enhance its mechanical properties, which varied with quasicrystal loading. A methodology was developed to incorporate micrometric quasicrystal particles at controlled concentrations, ranging from 0% (control sample) to 5% by weight relative to starch. Specimens were prepared using mechanical agitation and heat, followed by drying and storage in a desiccator. Tensile testing was performed to evaluate the reinforcement effect on mechanical properties. Results demonstrated significant improvements in TPS compared to the control, the Young’s modulus increased by up to 50%, the ultimate tensile strength increased by 60%, and the elongation at break reduced by 45% in TPS reinforced with 0.1%, indicating increased material stiffness. These findings show that incorporating small amounts of quasicrystal notably modifies the physical and mechanical properties of the starch matrix, validating its potential as a reinforcement for bioplastics. Furthermore, this work contributes to developing biodegradable materials, as the resulting bioplastic consists of starch, glycerol, deionized water, and small quantities of quasicrystal. Thermoplastic starch Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystal polymer composite mechanical properties Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 INTRODUCTION The escalating environmental burden of petroleum-derived plastics demands urgent attention, with global production exceeding 430 million tons annually. Approximately two-thirds of these plastics serve short-term applications, culminating in pervasive contamination of marine and freshwater ecosystems. Conventional plastics further degrade into persistent microplastics, posing century-scale threats to aquatic flora and fauna [ 1 ]. In response, biodegradable thermoplastics—particularly those sourced from agricultural feedstocks—offer a promising sustainable alternative [ 2 ]. Among biopolymers, starch emerges as a viable candidate due to its natural abundance (second only to cellulose) [ 2 ] and its cost-effectiveness [ 3 ]. However, native starch-based plastics exhibit inherent limitations: such as brittleness, and undesirable hydrophilicity [ 4 ]. These shortcomings require strategic reinforcement of the starch matrix. Structurally, starch comprises two macromolecules: linear amylose and branched amylopectin. Their relative proportions vary by botanical source, and intermolecular hydrogen bonding renders starch insoluble in cold water [ 5 ]. Plasticization with glycerol disrupts this network, forming hydrogen bonds between plasticizer and starch to yield flexible thermoplastic starch (TPS) [ 6 ]. Despite this process, TPS still requires reinforcement for practical applications. Current strategies to enhance TPS include nanofillers (e.g., silver nanoparticles, nanocellulose) and plasticizer optimization [ 6 ]. This study explores a novel approach: reinforcing TPS with icosahedral quasicrystalline Al 64 Cu 23 Fe 13 powder. Quasicrystals (QCs) demonstrate documented mechanical reinforcement capabilities [ 7 ] and proven efficacy in biomaterial composites [ 8 ]. We hypothesize that QC dispersion within the TPS matrix will restrict starch polymer chain mobility, thereby inhibiting plastic deformation and enhancing stiffness. Herein, we systematically investigate how QC incorporation (0.1–5 wt%) influences the tensile properties of TPS composites—specifically Young’s modulus, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation at break—addressing a critical gap in sustainable material design. MATERIALS AND METHODS Synthesis of icosahedral quasicrystal i-AlCuFe (QC) Following previous works [ 9 – 11 ], high-purity elements (> 99.5%) of Al, Cu, and Fe (Sigma-Aldrich, Missouri, USA) were used in the stoichiometric ratio Al 64 Cu 23 Fe 13 , corresponding to the existence region in the ternary phase diagram of this alloy. The elements were melted in an arc furnace, with argon atmosphere to prevent oxidation, and held in the molten state for 30 seconds. The resulting ingot was hermetically encapsulated in a quartz ampoule under argon gas and subjected to a heat treatment at 800°C for 48 hours in a tubular furnace VCTF4 (Vecstar Ltd, Chesterfield, UK). Finally, the sample was ground in an agate mortar to obtain fine particles that passed through a 325-mesh sieve (~ 44 µm). Preparation of the polymer composite Thermoplastic starch (TPS) was prepared via the solution casting method, whereby starch granules are gelatinized by solvent evaporation through heating [ 12 ]. The weight ratios of starch, glycerol, and deionized water used for synthesis were 4:1:95. The solution was poured and uniformly spread into an anti-adhesive stainless-steel plate with dimensions 43 cm x 29 cm during 7 hours at 40°C to evaporate the solvent. Subsequently, starch was subsequently partially replaced with QC powder at concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 wt% to prepare reinforced TPS composites. Additionally, reference samples of low-density polyethylene (LDPE, Elefante, Lima, Peru) and commercial bioplastic (CBP, Bioelements Chile S.A., Santiago, Chile) were analyzed. Characterization of synthesized QC To determine the composition and morphology of the synthesized QC, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed. XRD measurements were performed using a Bragg-Brentano geometry D8 Focus diffractometer (Bruker AXS, Karlsruhe, Germany) with Cu-Kα radiation (λ = 1.54 Å). SEM analysis was performed on a Prisma E microscope (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Massachusetts, USA) operated at an accelerating voltage of 30 kV and a magnification of 6,000x. Mechanical analysis of TPS composites The mechanical properties of TPS composites were evaluated via tensile testing in accordance with ASTM D882-18 [ 13 ] for plastics under 0.1 mm thickness. Tests were performed using a universal testing machine equipped with a 200 N load cell. To ensure reproducibility, ten specimens per composite formulation were analyzed. Young’s modulus, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation at break were derived from the stress-strain curves. Mean values and standard deviations were calculated, followed by Kruskal-Wallis and Bonferroni's post-hoc tests to identify significant differences at a 95% confidence level (α = 0.05). Principal component analysis (PCA) was subsequently applied to examine variable correlations and clustering trends among samples. RESULTS XRD and SEM characterization of QC X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the exclusive presence of the icosahedral quasicrystalline phase (i-phase), with no detectable secondary phases (see Fig. 1 ). The diffraction pattern exhibited sharp peaks, indicative of high crystallinity, with a crystallite size of 275.47 ± 82.23 nm calculated via the Scherrer equation applied to the 18/29 reflection in Cahn's indexing notation. Complementary, SEM/EDS analysis established the composition as Al 62.97 Cu 23.30 Fe 13.73 , consistent with the nominal stoichiometry. Morphological examination revealed dodecahedral granules exhibiting characteristic pentagonal faceting (Fig. 2 ), with a mean particle size of 20.05 ± 0.18 µm. These structural and compositional results collectively confirm phase-pure i-AlCuFe formation. Mechanical properties of TPS composites Tensile testing revealed significant variations in mechanical performance of the TPS composites and reference plastics. The mean values and standard deviation for Young’s modulus, ultimate tensile strength and elongation at break are presented in Table 1 . Statistical analysis identified distinct mechanical behavior between formulations, where uppercase letters denote significant differences (p < 0.05) between group means as determined by Kruskal-Wallis and Bonferroni's post-hoc tests. Table 1 Mechanical parameters (Young’s modulus, ultimate tensile strength and elongation at break) of TPS composites and control samples. Young’s modulus (MPa) Ultimate tensile strength (MPa) Elongation at break (%) LDPE 899.30 ± 55.16 A 36.63 ± 3.92 A 94.87 ± 11.12 A CBP 397.29 ± 23.92 B 10.27 ± 0.30 B 85.77 ± 21.29 A TPS-0%QC 474.08 ± 63.68 BC 13.38 ± 1.52 BC 4.99 ± 1.41 B TPS-0.1%QC 671.41 ± 76.04 D 21.35 ± 3.38 D 4.54 ± 0.64 B TPS-0.5%QC 676.31 ± 61.43 D 15.60 ± 3.54 C 2.71 ± 0.61 B TPS-1%QC 712.15 ± 34.26 D 15.20 ± 2.77 C 2.81 ± 0.45 B TPS-3%QC 490.75 ± 39.47 C 12.54 ± 1.88 BC 4.30 ± 0.84 B TPS-5%QC 587.34 ± 43.92 E 13.47 ± 2.11 BC 3.96 ± 0.75 B Values expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Different uppercase letters within columns indicate statistically significant differences according Kruskal-Wallis and Bonferroni's post-hoc tests (p < 0.05). Young’s modulus of TPS composites increased with QC reinforcement up to 1 wt% loading, reaching a maximum value of 712.15 ± 34.26 MPa compared to 474.08 ± 63.68 MPa for unreinforced TPS. However, statistical analysis revealed no significant differences (p > 0.05) among QC-reinforced formulations. At 3 wt% QC, modulus values (490.75 ± 39.47 MPa) reverted to levels comparable with neat TPS, while the 5 wt% composite exhibited intermediate behavior (587.34 ± 43.92 MPa). Reference plastics demonstrated contrasting properties: LDPE showed substantially higher modulus (899.30 ± 55.16 MPa), whereas CBP registered the lowest values (397.29 ± 23.92 MPa). Regarding ultimate tensile strength, LDPE demonstrated the highest value (36.63 ± 3.92 MPa). Among non-polyethylene materials, the 0.1 wt% QC-reinforced TPS composite demonstrated significantly superior tensile strength (21.35 ± 3.38 MPa) compared to other formulations (p < 0.05). This performance highlights the unique reinforcement effect at minimal quasicrystal loading. Elongation at break was substantially higher for commercial plastics (94.87 ± 11.12% for LDPE and 85.77 ± 21.29% for CBP). In contrast, TPS composites with 0, 0.1, 3, and 5 wt% QC exhibited values ranging from 3.96% to 4.99%, showing no statistically significant differences among themselves. However, these values were greater than those observed for TPS with 0.5 and 1 wt% QC reinforcement. Principal component analysis (PCA) The first two principal components, PC1 and PC2, accounted for 94.02% of the total variance, with contributions of 59.19% and 34.83%, respectively. PC1 exhibited a strong positive correlation with Young's modulus and ultimate tensile strength, whereas PC2 was primarily associated with elongation at break (see Fig. 4 ). As shown in Table 2 , Young's modulus exhibits a positive association with ultimate tensile strength and a marked inverse relationship with elongation at break. However, ultimate tensile strength and elongation at break appear uncorrelated. In the resulting score plot, the control sample (neat TPS) was located in the upper-left quadrant. A pronounced shift was observed for the TPS-0.5%QC composite, which clustered in the lower-right quadrant. The remaining QC-reinforced composites (TPS-0.1%, 1%, 3%, and 5%) occupied intermediate positions along the PC1 axis, forming a discernible trend that correlates with increasing quasicrystal content. Table 2 Correlation matrix from PCA. Young’s modulus Ultimate tensile strength Elongation at break Young’s modulus 1 0.52227 -0.60308 Ultimate tensile strength 0.52227 1 0.04551 Elongation at break -0.60308 0.04551 1 DISCUSSION The structural characterization confirms the successful synthesis of phase-pure icosahedral quasicrystalline i-AlCuFe. XRD results are critical as they validate the high structural quality of the reinforcement material. The calculated crystallite size of 275.47 ± 82.23 nm is consistent with other similar works [ 11 ], which are often sought after for their potential to enhance composite properties. Complementary, SEM/EDS established the correct nominal composition and revealed a characteristic dodecahedral morphology with pentagonal faceting [ 14 ]. This confirms that the synthesized QC particles possess the intrinsic aperiodic structure and unique geometric features hypothesized to interact favorably with the polymer matrix. The consistent particle size of 20.05 ± 0.18 µm suggests good control over the synthesis process, providing a uniformly sized filler for the subsequent composite fabrication. The mechanical characterization highlights the dual role of the QC reinforcement on the TPS matrix, demonstrating a concentration-dependent influence on the stiffness and strength of the material. The Young's modulus data confirms that QC reinforcement, particularly at low loadings (up to 1 wt%), significantly stiffens the TPS matrix, reaching a maximum increase of nearly 50% relative to the neat TPS. This improvement is attributed to the inherent hardness and rigidity of the quasicrystalline phase [ 7 ], which effectively restricts the deformation of the surrounding polymer chains. However, the absence of significant difference among the QC reinforced formulations suggests that the maximum effective interfacial stress transfer is achieved relatively early. The notable decrease in the modulus at 3 wt% and its recovery at 5 wt% corresponds to a non-linear behavior that could indicate an optimal loading concentration around 1 wt%, from which particle agglomeration or rupture of the filler-matrix interface occurs. The stiffness of the composite at 3 wt% becomes comparable to that of neat TPS, potentially due to poor dispersion leading to stress concentration points rather than effective load transfer. The ultimate tensile strength results further underscore the efficacy of minimal QC loading. The 0.1 wt% QC composite showed a significantly superior tensile strength compared to all other TPS-based formulations. This exceptional performance at such a low concentration suggests toward a highly efficient reinforcement mechanism, likely involving optimal dispersion of the QC particles and strong interfacial adhesion. Quasicrystals are known for their low surface energy [ 15 ], which can potentially be tailored for enhanced polymer interactions. This small loading may represent the percolation threshold where individual, well-dispersed particles maximize the strength effect before agglomeration begins to dominate and reduce the effective load-bearing area [ 16 ]. A clear trade-off between stiffness and flexibility is evident from the elongation at break results. The QC-reinforced TPS composites exhibited very low flexibility (< 5%) compared to the commercial polyethylene standards (LDPE and CBP). This is an expected effect in polymer composites reinforced with rigid fillers [ 16 ] [ 17 ], the high rigidity and constrained movement imposed by the QC particles significantly reduce the ability of the polymer to stretch before the failure. The notable reduced elongation observed in the 0.5 wt% and 1 wt% composites corresponds with the maximum stiffness identified in these formulations, corroborating that the materials exhibiting the greatest stiffness are also the most brittle. PCA was employed to visualize and interpret the multivariate mechanical data of the samples, providing a formal confirmation of the trends observed in the univariate tests. PC1 primarily represents a trade-off between stiffness and flexibility of the materials. The biplot shows that samples with high positive scores on PC1 exhibit high ultimate tensile strength and Young's modulus, while those with negative scores are characterized by high elongation at break. This graphically validates the inverse relationship between stiffness and flexibility detailed in the previous section. The analysis also shows a strong positive correlation between ultimate tensile strength and Young's modulus, and conversely, a strong negative correlation between these two properties and elongation at break, visually confirming the expected mechanical behavior of the composite system. Furthermore, the clustering of the TPS composites based on their mechanical behavior precisely corroborates the optimal and sub-optimal loading concentrations. The TPS composites with 0.1 and 0.5 wt% QC cluster together in the hemisphere corresponding to high tensile strength and Young's modulus, consistent with the strongest materials identified by the individual tests. In contrast, TPS composites with 0 and 3 wt% QC are located in the opposite hemisphere, demonstrating high elongation at break and lower stiffness. This suggests that the concentration of QC significantly influences the mechanical performance, a pattern that is clearly supported by the PCA visualization. It is critical to acknowledge the sensitivity of the TPS matrix to environmental conditions, which directly impacts the reproducibility and interpretation of mechanical results. This control is a fundamental requirement of standard ASTM D882-18 for thin plastic sheeting [ 13 ]. As a hydrophilic material, variations in ambient humidity are a primary cause of mechanical property fluctuation. Low relative humidity typically renders bioplastic specimens very brittle, whereas high relative humidity often results in highly elastic but fragile specimens (due to its hydrophilic nature) [ 5 ]. Thus, the measured mechanical enhancement due to QC must be considered within the strictly controlled environment of the testing protocol. The ability of low concentrations of QC to significantly enhance the stiffness and strength of TPS without completely compromising its biodegradability makes these materials promising candidates for sustainable packaging solutions. Specifically, these TPS-QC composites could be applied in single-use rigid packaging (e.g., clamshell containers or cutlery) where high modulus and moderate strength are required to maintain structural integrity under load, offering a high-performance, reduced-petroleum alternative. CONCLUSION This study successfully synthesized phase-pure icosahedral AlCuFe quasicrystals and demonstrated their effectiveness as a rigid reinforcing filler for TPS composites. Low QC filler, specifically 0.1 wt%, significantly enhanced the ultimate tensile strength of the TPS matrix, while concentrations up to 1 wt% maximized the Young's modulus, confirming a highly efficient stiffening mechanism. The pronounced trade-off between stiffness and flexibility, graphically validated by PCA, shows that the QC filler dictates the mechanical performance, producing stiff and moderately strong, yet brittle, biocomposites. These findings highlight the potential of QC-reinforced TPS for applications in sustainable rigid packaging where enhanced modulus and controlled material properties are critical. Declarations Competing interests The authors have no competing interests to declare that are relevant to the content of this article. Funding This research was supported by the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (Grant N° B24130501) J.A.C-V and J.Q-M thank ProCiencia (CONCYTEC) for funding through the Postdoctoral Researchers Incorporation Project (Grant N° PE501089919-2024-PROCIENCIA). A.A.N.P. thanks ProCiencia (CONCYTEC) for funding through the contest “Scholarships in educational doctorate programs through inter-institutional partnerships” (Grant N° PE501094305-2024-PROCIENCIA). C.V.L. and J.Q-M are grateful to CONCYTEC for partial financial support through the Excellence Center Program. Author Contribution Conceptualization: Carlos V. Landauro, Justiniano Quispe-Marcatoma; Methodology: Edgard Humberto Saccsa Mejia, Antony Alexander Neciosup Puican; Formal analysis and investigation: Edgard Humberto Saccsa Mejia, José Alberto Castañeda-Vía; Writing - original draft preparation: Edgard Humberto Saccsa Mejia, José Alberto Castañeda-Vía; Writing - review and editing: Antony Alexander Neciosup Puican, Carlos V. Landauro, Justiniano Quispe-Marcatoma; Funding acquisition: Carlos V. Landauro, Justiniano Quispe-Marcatoma; Supervision: Carlos V. Landauro, Justiniano Quispe-Marcatoma. References United Nations (2023) Explainer: What is plastic pollution? https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/es/2023/08/explainer-what-is-plastic-pollution/ Ramaraj B (2007) Crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) and starch composite films. II. Physicomechanical, thermal properties and swelling studies. J Appl Polym Sci 103:909–916. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.25237 Chen Y, Cao X, Chang PR, Huneault MA (2008) Comparative study on the films of poly(vinyl alcohol)/pea starch nanocrystals and poly(vinyl alcohol)/native pea starch. Carbohydr Polym 73:8–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2007.10.015 Cano A, Fortunati E, Cháfer M et al (2015) Properties and ageing behaviour of pea starch films as affected by blend with poly(vinyl alcohol). Food Hydrocolloids 48:84–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2015.01.008 Domene-López D, García-Quesada JC, Martin-Gullon I, Montalbán MG (2019) Influence of Starch Composition and Molecular Weight on Physicochemical Properties of Biodegradable Films. Polymers 11:1084. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11071084 Neciosup-Puican AA, Castañeda-Vía JA, Landauro CV et al (2023) SYNTHESIS OF NANOCELLULOSE AS MECHANICAL REINFORCEMENT OF THERMOPLASTIC STARCH. Momento 55–66. https://doi.org/10.15446/mo.n67.103549 Laplanche G, Bonneville J, Joulain A et al (2014) Mechanical properties of Al–Cu–Fe quasicrystalline and crystalline phases: An analogy. Intermetallics 50:54–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intermet.2014.02.004 Anderson BC, Bloom PD, Baikerikar KG et al (2002) Al–Cu–Fe quasicrystal/ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene composites as biomaterials for acetabular cup prosthetics. Biomaterials 23:1761–1768. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0142-9612(01)00301-5 Pillaca Quispe M, Landauro CV, Pinto Vergara MZ et al (2016) Influence of high energy milling on the microstructure and magnetic properties of the Al–Cu–Fe phases: the case of the i-Al 64 Cu 23 Fe 13 quasicrystalline and the ω-Al 70 Cu 20 Fe 10 crystalline phases. RSC Adv 6:5367–5376. https://doi.org/10.1039/C5RA21093C Quispe-Marcatoma J, Rojas-Ayala C, Landauro CV et al (2011) Nanostructuration of i-Al64Cu23Fe13 quasicrystals produced by arc-furnace. Hyperfine Interact 203:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10751-011-0363-z Castañeda-Vía J, Landauro CV, Quispe-Marcatoma J et al (2021) Improvement of mechanical properties of hydroxyapatite composites reinforced with i -Al 64 Cu 23 Fe 13 quasicrystal. J Compos Mater 55:1209–1216. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021998320964553 Jiménez A, Fabra MJ, Talens P, Chiralt A (2012) Edible and Biodegradable Starch Films: A Review. Food Bioprocess Technol 5:2058–2076. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11947-012-0835-4 ASTM International (2018) Standard Test Method for Tensile. Properties of Thin Plastic Sheeting Polozhentsev OE, Kozakov AT, Vlasenko VG et al (2024) The local atomic and electronic structure of quasicrystal i-Al65Cu23Fe12 powder. Mater Today Commun 39:108747. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2024.108747 Dubois J-M (2012) Properties- and applications of quasicrystals and complex metallic alloys. Chem Soc Rev 41:6760. https://doi.org/10.1039/c2cs35110b Fu S-Y, Feng X-Q, Lauke B, Mai Y-W (2008) Effects of particle size, particle/matrix interface adhesion and particle loading on mechanical properties of particulate–polymer composites. Compos Part B: Eng 39:933–961. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2008.01.002 Landel RF, Nielsen LE (1993) Mechanical Properties of Polymers and Composites, 0 edn. CRC Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 11 Mar, 2026 Reviews received at journal 21 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 18 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 11 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 09 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 03 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 03 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 29 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 29 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 29 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 29 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 29 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 29 Jan, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 28 Jan, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 17 Jan, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 17 Jan, 2026 First submitted to journal 15 Jan, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8613755","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":582543921,"identity":"c08a67dc-6ca5-4a30-8055-9c65de7f7887","order_by":0,"name":"Edgard Humberto Saccsa Mejía","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Edgard","middleName":"Humberto Saccsa","lastName":"Mejía","suffix":""},{"id":582543922,"identity":"9ca192a4-9def-461b-9f4a-a175940d5db6","order_by":1,"name":"José Alberto Castañeda-Vía","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"José","middleName":"Alberto","lastName":"Castañeda-Vía","suffix":""},{"id":582543923,"identity":"19ec8ee8-a68e-4deb-b067-66f2d151bf0d","order_by":2,"name":"Antony Alexander Neciosup-Puican","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Antony","middleName":"Alexander","lastName":"Neciosup-Puican","suffix":""},{"id":582543928,"identity":"0d727f59-4a1e-4976-888e-0c3802b898a0","order_by":3,"name":"Justiniano Quispe-Marcatoma","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Justiniano","middleName":"","lastName":"Quispe-Marcatoma","suffix":""},{"id":582543929,"identity":"7cf3ba4f-ebd6-45f9-840d-9116697f90ad","order_by":4,"name":"Carlos V. Landauro","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Carlos","middleName":"V.","lastName":"Landauro","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-01-15 21:53:19","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8613755/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8613755/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":101519348,"identity":"58ab6879-9cb4-47c5-aa84-76fac0fea02f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-30 16:47:27","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":17351,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eDiffractogram of the QC powder obtained from XRD. The indexation in main peaks corresponding to Cahn's notation for the icosahedral quasicrystalline phase.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8613755/v1/fcb1f53a018f9d3c24128e00.png"},{"id":101752187,"identity":"1e14aa11-2885-4d2e-9fcf-90129c06b766","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-03 10:25:57","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":323384,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eSEM micrograph of dodecahedral grains in the QC reinforcement.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8613755/v1/0229c13ed08264fd61d641b8.png"},{"id":101519345,"identity":"50ca2d4e-5bc4-4a7a-bc3a-7ecc5f8fe5de","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-30 16:47:26","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":22702,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eMechanical properties of TPS composites and reference plastics. The graph displays the mean values of Young's modulus (black circles, left axis), ultimate tensile strength (red stars, right axis), and elongation at break (blue triangles, secondary right axis) for different content of QC particles, alongside LDPE and CBP reference samples. Shaded areas represent the standard deviation of the measurements.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8613755/v1/1e51ad51068e9a3c8e0fa4cb.png"},{"id":101752509,"identity":"9e05ac6e-9b04-4e9d-a669-4ad8a74f8495","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-03 10:27:51","extension":"png","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":29743,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003ePrincipal Component Analysis (PCA) of the mechanical parameters of TPS composites. The biplot shows the relationships between variables (blue vectors) and samples (spheres). PC1 and PC2 explain 94.02% of the total variance, and the spheres are colored according to QC concentration.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Onlinefloatimage4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8613755/v1/c560b45517c5082dbb8778ee.png"},{"id":101755314,"identity":"29f495c7-f94f-4888-8c23-c5cf4182df29","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-03 10:50:52","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1069368,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8613755/v1/c55857d1-52ab-45a3-996b-71f755827baa.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Synthesis and characterization of thermoplastic starch-based composites reinforced with i-Al64Cu23Fe13 quasicrystal","fulltext":[{"header":"INTRODUCTION","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe escalating environmental burden of petroleum-derived plastics demands urgent attention, with global production exceeding 430\u0026nbsp;million tons annually. Approximately two-thirds of these plastics serve short-term applications, culminating in pervasive contamination of marine and freshwater ecosystems. Conventional plastics further degrade into persistent microplastics, posing century-scale threats to aquatic flora and fauna [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. In response, biodegradable thermoplastics\u0026mdash;particularly those sourced from agricultural feedstocks\u0026mdash;offer a promising sustainable alternative [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAmong biopolymers, starch emerges as a viable candidate due to its natural abundance (second only to cellulose) [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e] and its cost-effectiveness [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e]. However, native starch-based plastics exhibit inherent limitations: such as brittleness, and undesirable hydrophilicity [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e]. These shortcomings require strategic reinforcement of the starch matrix.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eStructurally, starch comprises two macromolecules: linear amylose and branched amylopectin. Their relative proportions vary by botanical source, and intermolecular hydrogen bonding renders starch insoluble in cold water [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e]. Plasticization with glycerol disrupts this network, forming hydrogen bonds between plasticizer and starch to yield flexible thermoplastic starch (TPS) [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]. Despite this process, TPS still requires reinforcement for practical applications.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCurrent strategies to enhance TPS include nanofillers (e.g., silver nanoparticles, nanocellulose) and plasticizer optimization [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]. This study explores a novel approach: reinforcing TPS with icosahedral quasicrystalline Al\u003csub\u003e64\u003c/sub\u003eCu\u003csub\u003e23\u003c/sub\u003eFe\u003csub\u003e13\u003c/sub\u003e powder. Quasicrystals (QCs) demonstrate documented mechanical reinforcement capabilities [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e] and proven efficacy in biomaterial composites [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e]. We hypothesize that QC dispersion within the TPS matrix will restrict starch polymer chain mobility, thereby inhibiting plastic deformation and enhancing stiffness.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHerein, we systematically investigate how QC incorporation (0.1\u0026ndash;5 wt%) influences the tensile properties of TPS composites\u0026mdash;specifically Young\u0026rsquo;s modulus, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation at break\u0026mdash;addressing a critical gap in sustainable material design.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"MATERIALS AND METHODS","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSynthesis of icosahedral quasicrystal i-AlCuFe (QC)\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eFollowing previous works [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR10\" citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e], high-purity elements (\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;99.5%) of Al, Cu, and Fe (Sigma-Aldrich, Missouri, USA) were used in the stoichiometric ratio Al\u003csub\u003e64\u003c/sub\u003eCu\u003csub\u003e23\u003c/sub\u003eFe\u003csub\u003e13\u003c/sub\u003e, corresponding to the existence region in the ternary phase diagram of this alloy. The elements were melted in an arc furnace, with argon atmosphere to prevent oxidation, and held in the molten state for 30 seconds. The resulting ingot was hermetically encapsulated in a quartz ampoule under argon gas and subjected to a heat treatment at 800\u0026deg;C for 48 hours in a tubular furnace VCTF4 (Vecstar Ltd, Chesterfield, UK). Finally, the sample was ground in an agate mortar to obtain fine particles that passed through a 325-mesh sieve (~\u0026thinsp;44 \u0026micro;m).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePreparation of the polymer composite\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThermoplastic starch (TPS) was prepared via the solution casting method, whereby starch granules are gelatinized by solvent evaporation through heating [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e]. The weight ratios of starch, glycerol, and deionized water used for synthesis were 4:1:95. The solution was poured and uniformly spread into an anti-adhesive stainless-steel plate with dimensions 43 cm x 29 cm during 7 hours at 40\u0026deg;C to evaporate the solvent. Subsequently, starch was subsequently partially replaced with QC powder at concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 wt% to prepare reinforced TPS composites. Additionally, reference samples of low-density polyethylene (LDPE, Elefante, Lima, Peru) and commercial bioplastic (CBP, Bioelements Chile S.A., Santiago, Chile) were analyzed.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCharacterization of synthesized QC\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo determine the composition and morphology of the synthesized QC, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed. XRD measurements were performed using a Bragg-Brentano geometry D8 Focus diffractometer (Bruker AXS, Karlsruhe, Germany) with Cu-Kα radiation (λ\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.54 \u0026Aring;). SEM analysis was performed on a Prisma E microscope (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Massachusetts, USA) operated at an accelerating voltage of 30 kV and a magnification of 6,000x.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMechanical analysis of TPS composites\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mechanical properties of TPS composites were evaluated via tensile testing in accordance with ASTM D882-18 [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e] for plastics under 0.1 mm thickness. Tests were performed using a universal testing machine equipped with a 200 N load cell. To ensure reproducibility, ten specimens per composite formulation were analyzed. Young\u0026rsquo;s modulus, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation at break were derived from the stress-strain curves. Mean values and standard deviations were calculated, followed by Kruskal-Wallis and Bonferroni's post-hoc tests to identify significant differences at a 95% confidence level (α\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.05). Principal component analysis (PCA) was subsequently applied to examine variable correlations and clustering trends among samples.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"RESULTS","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eXRD and SEM characterization of QC\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eX-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the exclusive presence of the icosahedral quasicrystalline phase (i-phase), with no detectable secondary phases (see Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). The diffraction pattern exhibited sharp peaks, indicative of high crystallinity, with a crystallite size of 275.47\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;82.23 nm calculated via the Scherrer equation applied to the 18/29 reflection in Cahn's indexing notation. Complementary, SEM/EDS analysis established the composition as Al\u003csub\u003e62.97\u003c/sub\u003eCu\u003csub\u003e23.30\u003c/sub\u003eFe\u003csub\u003e13.73\u003c/sub\u003e, consistent with the nominal stoichiometry. Morphological examination revealed dodecahedral granules exhibiting characteristic pentagonal faceting (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e), with a mean particle size of 20.05\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.18 \u0026micro;m. These structural and compositional results collectively confirm phase-pure i-AlCuFe formation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMechanical properties of TPS composites\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTensile testing revealed significant variations in mechanical performance of the TPS composites and reference plastics. The mean values and standard deviation for Young\u0026rsquo;s modulus, ultimate tensile strength and elongation at break are presented in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e. Statistical analysis identified distinct mechanical behavior between formulations, where uppercase letters denote significant differences (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) between group means as determined by Kruskal-Wallis and Bonferroni's post-hoc tests.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMechanical parameters (Young\u0026rsquo;s modulus, ultimate tensile strength and elongation at break) of TPS composites and control samples.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYoung\u0026rsquo;s modulus (MPa)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUltimate tensile strength (MPa)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eElongation at break (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLDPE\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e899.30\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;55.16 \u003csup\u003eA\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36.63\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.92 \u003csup\u003eA\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e94.87\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;11.12 \u003csup\u003eA\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCBP\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e397.29\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;23.92 \u003csup\u003eB\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.27\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.30 \u003csup\u003eB\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e85.77\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;21.29 \u003csup\u003eA\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTPS-0%QC\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e474.08\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;63.68 \u003csup\u003eBC\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.38\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.52 \u003csup\u003eBC\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.99\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.41 \u003csup\u003eB\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTPS-0.1%QC\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e671.41\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;76.04 \u003csup\u003eD\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21.35\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.38 \u003csup\u003eD\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.54\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.64 \u003csup\u003eB\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTPS-0.5%QC\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e676.31\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;61.43 \u003csup\u003eD\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.60\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.54 \u003csup\u003eC\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.71\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.61 \u003csup\u003eB\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTPS-1%QC\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e712.15\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;34.26 \u003csup\u003eD\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.20\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.77 \u003csup\u003eC\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.81\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.45 \u003csup\u003eB\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTPS-3%QC\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e490.75\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;39.47 \u003csup\u003eC\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.54\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.88 \u003csup\u003eBC\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.30\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.84 \u003csup\u003eB\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTPS-5%QC\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e587.34\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;43.92 \u003csup\u003eE\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.47\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.11 \u003csup\u003eBC\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.96\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.75 \u003csup\u003eB\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"4\"\u003eValues expressed as mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;standard deviation. Different uppercase letters within columns indicate statistically significant differences according Kruskal-Wallis and Bonferroni's post-hoc tests (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05).\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eYoung\u0026rsquo;s modulus of TPS composites increased with QC reinforcement up to 1 wt% loading, reaching a maximum value of 712.15\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;34.26 MPa compared to 474.08\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;63.68 MPa for unreinforced TPS. However, statistical analysis revealed no significant differences (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) among QC-reinforced formulations. At 3 wt% QC, modulus values (490.75\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;39.47 MPa) reverted to levels comparable with neat TPS, while the 5 wt% composite exhibited intermediate behavior (587.34\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;43.92 MPa). Reference plastics demonstrated contrasting properties: LDPE showed substantially higher modulus (899.30\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;55.16 MPa), whereas CBP registered the lowest values (397.29\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;23.92 MPa).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRegarding ultimate tensile strength, LDPE demonstrated the highest value (36.63\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.92 MPa). Among non-polyethylene materials, the 0.1 wt% QC-reinforced TPS composite demonstrated significantly superior tensile strength (21.35\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.38 MPa) compared to other formulations (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). This performance highlights the unique reinforcement effect at minimal quasicrystal loading.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eElongation at break was substantially higher for commercial plastics (94.87\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;11.12% for LDPE and 85.77\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;21.29% for CBP). In contrast, TPS composites with 0, 0.1, 3, and 5 wt% QC exhibited values ranging from 3.96% to 4.99%, showing no statistically significant differences among themselves. However, these values were greater than those observed for TPS with 0.5 and 1 wt% QC reinforcement.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePrincipal component analysis (PCA)\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first two principal components, PC1 and PC2, accounted for 94.02% of the total variance, with contributions of 59.19% and 34.83%, respectively. PC1 exhibited a strong positive correlation with Young's modulus and ultimate tensile strength, whereas PC2 was primarily associated with elongation at break (see Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e). As shown in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, Young's modulus exhibits a positive association with ultimate tensile strength and a marked inverse relationship with elongation at break. However, ultimate tensile strength and elongation at break appear uncorrelated. In the resulting score plot, the control sample (neat TPS) was located in the upper-left quadrant. A pronounced shift was observed for the TPS-0.5%QC composite, which clustered in the lower-right quadrant. The remaining QC-reinforced composites (TPS-0.1%, 1%, 3%, and 5%) occupied intermediate positions along the PC1 axis, forming a discernible trend that correlates with increasing quasicrystal content.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCorrelation matrix from PCA.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYoung\u0026rsquo;s modulus\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUltimate tensile strength\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eElongation at break\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYoung\u0026rsquo;s modulus\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.52227\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.60308\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUltimate tensile strength\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.52227\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.04551\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eElongation at break\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.60308\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.04551\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"DISCUSSION","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe structural characterization confirms the successful synthesis of phase-pure icosahedral quasicrystalline i-AlCuFe. XRD results are critical as they validate the high structural quality of the reinforcement material. The calculated crystallite size of 275.47\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;82.23 nm is consistent with other similar works [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e], which are often sought after for their potential to enhance composite properties. Complementary, SEM/EDS established the correct nominal composition and revealed a characteristic dodecahedral morphology with pentagonal faceting [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]. This confirms that the synthesized QC particles possess the intrinsic aperiodic structure and unique geometric features hypothesized to interact favorably with the polymer matrix. The consistent particle size of 20.05\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.18 \u0026micro;m suggests good control over the synthesis process, providing a uniformly sized filler for the subsequent composite fabrication.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe mechanical characterization highlights the dual role of the QC reinforcement on the TPS matrix, demonstrating a concentration-dependent influence on the stiffness and strength of the material. The Young's modulus data confirms that QC reinforcement, particularly at low loadings (up to 1 wt%), significantly stiffens the TPS matrix, reaching a maximum increase of nearly 50% relative to the neat TPS. This improvement is attributed to the inherent hardness and rigidity of the quasicrystalline phase [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e], which effectively restricts the deformation of the surrounding polymer chains. However, the absence of significant difference among the QC reinforced formulations suggests that the maximum effective interfacial stress transfer is achieved relatively early. The notable decrease in the modulus at 3 wt% and its recovery at 5 wt% corresponds to a non-linear behavior that could indicate an optimal loading concentration around 1 wt%, from which particle agglomeration or rupture of the filler-matrix interface occurs. The stiffness of the composite at 3 wt% becomes comparable to that of neat TPS, potentially due to poor dispersion leading to stress concentration points rather than effective load transfer. The ultimate tensile strength results further underscore the efficacy of minimal QC loading. The 0.1 wt% QC composite showed a significantly superior tensile strength compared to all other TPS-based formulations. This exceptional performance at such a low concentration suggests toward a highly efficient reinforcement mechanism, likely involving optimal dispersion of the QC particles and strong interfacial adhesion. Quasicrystals are known for their low surface energy [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e], which can potentially be tailored for enhanced polymer interactions. This small loading may represent the percolation threshold where individual, well-dispersed particles maximize the strength effect before agglomeration begins to dominate and reduce the effective load-bearing area [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e]. A clear trade-off between stiffness and flexibility is evident from the elongation at break results. The QC-reinforced TPS composites exhibited very low flexibility (\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;5%) compared to the commercial polyethylene standards (LDPE and CBP). This is an expected effect in polymer composites reinforced with rigid fillers [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e] [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e], the high rigidity and constrained movement imposed by the QC particles significantly reduce the ability of the polymer to stretch before the failure. The notable reduced elongation observed in the 0.5 wt% and 1 wt% composites corresponds with the maximum stiffness identified in these formulations, corroborating that the materials exhibiting the greatest stiffness are also the most brittle.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePCA was employed to visualize and interpret the multivariate mechanical data of the samples, providing a formal confirmation of the trends observed in the univariate tests. PC1 primarily represents a trade-off between stiffness and flexibility of the materials. The biplot shows that samples with high positive scores on PC1 exhibit high ultimate tensile strength and Young's modulus, while those with negative scores are characterized by high elongation at break. This graphically validates the inverse relationship between stiffness and flexibility detailed in the previous section. The analysis also shows a strong positive correlation between ultimate tensile strength and Young's modulus, and conversely, a strong negative correlation between these two properties and elongation at break, visually confirming the expected mechanical behavior of the composite system. Furthermore, the clustering of the TPS composites based on their mechanical behavior precisely corroborates the optimal and sub-optimal loading concentrations. The TPS composites with 0.1 and 0.5 wt% QC cluster together in the hemisphere corresponding to high tensile strength and Young's modulus, consistent with the strongest materials identified by the individual tests. In contrast, TPS composites with 0 and 3 wt% QC are located in the opposite hemisphere, demonstrating high elongation at break and lower stiffness. This suggests that the concentration of QC significantly influences the mechanical performance, a pattern that is clearly supported by the PCA visualization.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIt is critical to acknowledge the sensitivity of the TPS matrix to environmental conditions, which directly impacts the reproducibility and interpretation of mechanical results. This control is a fundamental requirement of standard ASTM D882-18 for thin plastic sheeting [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e]. As a hydrophilic material, variations in ambient humidity are a primary cause of mechanical property fluctuation. Low relative humidity typically renders bioplastic specimens very brittle, whereas high relative humidity often results in highly elastic but fragile specimens (due to its hydrophilic nature) [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e]. Thus, the measured mechanical enhancement due to QC must be considered within the strictly controlled environment of the testing protocol.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe ability of low concentrations of QC to significantly enhance the stiffness and strength of TPS without completely compromising its biodegradability makes these materials promising candidates for sustainable packaging solutions. Specifically, these TPS-QC composites could be applied in single-use rigid packaging (e.g., clamshell containers or cutlery) where high modulus and moderate strength are required to maintain structural integrity under load, offering a high-performance, reduced-petroleum alternative.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"CONCLUSION","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study successfully synthesized phase-pure icosahedral AlCuFe quasicrystals and demonstrated their effectiveness as a rigid reinforcing filler for TPS composites. Low QC filler, specifically 0.1 wt%, significantly enhanced the ultimate tensile strength of the TPS matrix, while concentrations up to 1 wt% maximized the Young's modulus, confirming a highly efficient stiffening mechanism. The pronounced trade-off between stiffness and flexibility, graphically validated by PCA, shows that the QC filler dictates the mechanical performance, producing stiff and moderately strong, yet brittle, biocomposites. These findings highlight the potential of QC-reinforced TPS for applications in sustainable rigid packaging where enhanced modulus and controlled material properties are critical.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003ch2\u003eCompeting interests\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe authors have no competing interests to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.\u003c/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFunding\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis research was supported by the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (Grant N\u0026deg; B24130501) J.A.C-V and J.Q-M thank ProCiencia (CONCYTEC) for funding through the Postdoctoral Researchers Incorporation Project (Grant N\u0026deg; PE501089919-2024-PROCIENCIA). A.A.N.P. thanks ProCiencia (CONCYTEC) for funding through the contest \u0026ldquo;Scholarships in educational doctorate programs through inter-institutional partnerships\u0026rdquo; (Grant N\u0026deg; PE501094305-2024-PROCIENCIA). C.V.L. and J.Q-M are grateful to CONCYTEC for partial financial support through the Excellence Center Program.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eConceptualization: Carlos V. Landauro, Justiniano Quispe-Marcatoma; Methodology: Edgard Humberto Saccsa Mejia, Antony Alexander Neciosup Puican; Formal analysis and investigation: Edgard Humberto Saccsa Mejia, Jos\u0026eacute; Alberto Casta\u0026ntilde;eda-V\u0026iacute;a; Writing - original draft preparation: Edgard Humberto Saccsa Mejia, Jos\u0026eacute; Alberto Casta\u0026ntilde;eda-V\u0026iacute;a; Writing - review and editing: Antony Alexander Neciosup Puican, Carlos V. Landauro, Justiniano Quispe-Marcatoma; Funding acquisition: Carlos V. Landauro, Justiniano Quispe-Marcatoma; Supervision: Carlos V. 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Chem Soc Rev 41:6760. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1039/c2cs35110b\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1039/c2cs35110b\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFu S-Y, Feng X-Q, Lauke B, Mai Y-W (2008) Effects of particle size, particle/matrix interface adhesion and particle loading on mechanical properties of particulate\u0026ndash;polymer composites. Compos Part B: Eng 39:933\u0026ndash;961. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2008.01.002\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1016/j.compositesb.2008.01.002\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLandel RF, Nielsen LE (1993) Mechanical Properties of Polymers and Composites, 0 edn. CRC\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"journal-of-polymers-and-the-environment","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"jooe","sideBox":"Learn more about [Journal of Polymers and the Environment](https://www.springer.com/journal/10924)","snPcode":"10924","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/10924/3","title":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Thermoplastic starch, Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystal, polymer composite, mechanical properties","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8613755/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8613755/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThermoplastic starch-based (TPS) composites represent a promising alternative to synthetic plastics due to their biodegradability and potential to address plastic waste pollution. However, pure TPS without additives or reinforcements lack sufficient mechanical, thermal, or functional properties compared to petroleum-derived plastics and even commercial bioplastics. This work explores the use of an Al\u003csub\u003e64\u003c/sub\u003eCu\u003csub\u003e23\u003c/sub\u003eFe\u003csub\u003e13\u003c/sub\u003e icosahedral quasicrystal as a reinforcement within a starch matrix to enhance its mechanical properties, which varied with quasicrystal loading. A methodology was developed to incorporate micrometric quasicrystal particles at controlled concentrations, ranging from 0% (control sample) to 5% by weight relative to starch. Specimens were prepared using mechanical agitation and heat, followed by drying and storage in a desiccator. Tensile testing was performed to evaluate the reinforcement effect on mechanical properties. Results demonstrated significant improvements in TPS compared to the control, the Young\u0026rsquo;s modulus increased by up to 50%, the ultimate tensile strength increased by 60%, and the elongation at break reduced by 45% in TPS reinforced with 0.1%, indicating increased material stiffness. These findings show that incorporating small amounts of quasicrystal notably modifies the physical and mechanical properties of the starch matrix, validating its potential as a reinforcement for bioplastics. Furthermore, this work contributes to developing biodegradable materials, as the resulting bioplastic consists of starch, glycerol, deionized water, and small quantities of quasicrystal.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Synthesis and characterization of thermoplastic starch-based composites reinforced with i-Al64Cu23Fe13 quasicrystal","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-01-30 16:47:22","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8613755/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-03-11T17:26:33+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-02-21T10:39:41+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-02-18T14:44:22+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-02-11T13:12:12+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-02-09T07:01:40+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-02-04T02:22:55+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-02-03T13:25:30+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"245287173834962447446894439039029673557","date":"2026-01-29T14:23:45+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"208621254017150239146971437692815178893","date":"2026-01-29T14:01:29+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"133902613350286943918053217882322966400","date":"2026-01-29T13:03:31+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"204746051037210730725532368898977275270","date":"2026-01-29T11:31:24+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"338368212529574970845777775177146685738","date":"2026-01-29T10:31:53+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"257192333851711888912513710099834154334","date":"2026-01-29T05:38:48+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-01-28T18:42:10+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-01-17T20:56:53+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-01-17T20:55:26+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","date":"2026-01-15T21:46:30+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"journal-of-polymers-and-the-environment","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"jooe","sideBox":"Learn more about [Journal of Polymers and the Environment](https://www.springer.com/journal/10924)","snPcode":"10924","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/10924/3","title":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"c2db9d30-1d4e-4cd5-a096-556b9b58b263","owner":[],"postedDate":"January 30th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-13T15:38:11+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-01-30 16:47:22","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8613755","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8613755","identity":"rs-8613755","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}